


4NKOW 



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GRIFFITH JOHN 

gtmnbgv of tJj* Hankow ptts#t<m 



BY 

WILLIAM ROBSON 

Of the London Missionary Society. 




FLEMING H. REVELL 

CHICAGO : 

148 & 150 MADISON STREET. 



NEW YORK : 
12 BIBLE HOUSE. 



PUBLISHER OF EVANGELICAL LITERATURE. 




Preface, 

Hfc 

The introduction of Protestant Missions into the in- 
terior of China is of such recent date that the most 
eminent pioneers of that movement are still living. 

Not only was Griffith John the first to preach in 
Hankow, and to carry the Gospel into the provinces 
of Si-chuen, Shan-si, and the capitals of other pro- 
vinces which were long closed to missionaries by the 
obstinate pride of the officials and literati, but his 
eloquence as a preacher, his literary attainments, and 
the tact and adroitness displayed in dealing with offi- 
cials of the government, combine to place him foremost 
on the list of Chinese missionaries. 

He has, however, a position assigned to him by 
Higher authority than that of man. Upon him has 
been conferred the favour of the Most High, and such 
spiritual success has attended his ministry to the 
heathen, that human estimates of his place in the 
mission field are futile and inadequate. It remains for a 
higher audience to hear the answer which will be given 
to the question, " What shall be done unto the man 
whom the King delighteth to honour ? " 



b PREFACE. 

This volume is prepared chiefly from the correspon- 
dence, dating from the year 1850, of Mr. John with 
his well-beloved friend, the Eev. Elijah Jacob, of 
Ebley, Gloucestershire, The author gives his best 
thanks to Mr. Jacob and his family, for the efficient 
help and the great kindness they have shown to him. 
Information has also been obtained from the Annual 
Eeports, and the " Chronicle " of the London Mis- 
sionary Society. 

He also tenders cordial thanks to Mr. John Archi- 
bald, of the National' Bible Society of Scotland. The 
chapter on Mr. John's literary work is chiefly the 
product of his pen. 

The writer gratefully acknowledges the help rendered 
by the Eev. Professor Griffith, F.G.S., the Eev. Josiah 
Jones of Machynlleth, the Eev. David John of Man- 
chester, W. Lockhart, Esq., F.E.C.S., formerly Medical 
Missionary in China, and Eev. G. Owen of Peking. 

He is also especially indebted to Mrs. de Selincourt, 
of Balham, and to Mrs. de St. Croix, of Streatham, 
for the loan of photographs and copies of Mr. John's 
literary productions; and to Miss Wylie of Hamp- 
stead, for information respecting her father's journey 
with Mr. John through the provinces of Si-chuen and 
Shan-si. 

Mr. John has only allowed this book to be published 
upon it being urgently represented to him that the 
perusal of it may be helpful to mission work in the 
great empire of China. Matters relating to his person 
and family have only been introduced so far as they 
are calculated to help the story of the Mission. 




COKTENTS. 



CHAP. PAGE 

i. The Boy Preacher of Wales. — Losing and Gaining a 

Father by the same Grave. — Covenanting to be a 
Missionary ...... 9 



ii. Shanghai— Buckling on his Armour 



16 



ih. The Taiping Rebellion 



37 



iv. Founding of the Hankow Mission 



53 



v. Native Helpers. — Mission Hospital Established. — 

Specimen Converts . . . . .79 



vi. Tour of 3,000 Miles through the Provinces of Si- 

CHUZN AND SHEN-SI. — REMOVAL TO WUCHANG. — YlSIT 

to England. — Return, and Death of Mrs. John . 9-i 



CONTENTS. 



CHAP, 

vii. Literaky Work 



PAGE 

112 



vin. Second Marriage. — Stoned by the Heathen. — Endued 
with " Power from on High." — Continued Success. 
— Death of Mrs. John . . . .127 

ix. Faint, yet Pursuing. — The Arms of China wide open 

to the Gospel. — Happy Deaths . . .149 






CHAPTER I. 

The Boy Preacher of Wales— Losing and Gain- 
ing a Father by the same Grave— Covenant- 
ing to be a Missionary, 
— * — 



" Far away, far away, in heathen darkness dwelling, 
Millions of souls for ever may be lost. 
Who, who, will go, salvation's story telling ; 
Looking to Jesus — counting not the cost ? ' 

^^ 



For many years the Church of Christ had prayed 
that its missionaries might be admitted into 
China. Ancient heathenism, in proud possession of a 
literature the mastery of which demanded the effort 
of the most talented intellects, was quite satisfied and 
contented in the belief that it had little to learn from 
foreigners. But the mighty empire which for ages 
had imperiously forbidden the barbarian to tread upon 
her shores, suddenly found her gates of brass thrown 
open by the hand of Omnipotence. 

That same power had also urged the Church to 
prepare men, and, when the golden opportunity 
arrived, promptly sent forth these messengers of 



10 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

salvation into China's crowded cities. Further events 
pushed the door more widely open, and the vast in- 
terior was made accessible to missionary operations. 

This book purposes to give some account of one of 
these pioneer missionaries. A man able and bold, yet 
full of tact withal. We prefer, however, to allow our 
readers to form their own conclusions respecting his 
character from the events here narrated, and would 
only add in explanation that they must be taken as 
illustrations, and not in any sense as a full and 
adequate account of his active and successful career. 

Griffith John was born at Swansea on the 14th of 
December, 1831. His parents were religious, and 
comfortably situated in life, rather above the class to 
which they belonged. The father of Mr. John was 
much respected, and until his death continued in the 
employ of Messrs. Vivian and Sons. 

His mother died of cholera in 1832, and his father's 
sister, who is still living, performed to Griffith a 
mother's part. 

He was from childhood under the influence of the 
Holy Spirit, and loved to be with older Christians. 
At eight years of age he was admitted a member of 
the Church at Ebenezer, Swansea, and when between 
nine and ten years old took part in religious services. 
The first public prayer of this child, uttered with 
quivering lips and falling tears, consisted of only one 
petition : " Lord, pardon my sins, through Jesus 
Christ. Amen." 

When twelve years of age he entered the employ of 
Mr. John Williams of Onllwyn, who was a godly man, 
and soon perceived the promising character of the lad. 
He invited him to become an inmate of his house, 
and treated him as one of his own family. 

At fourteen he commenced to preach the Gospel, 
and from the first gave evidence of possessing orator- 
ical gifts of the highest order. The people delighted 
to hear him, and invitations reached him from various 



THE BOY PEEACHER OF WALES. 11 

churches. Among the crowded audiences many were 
heard to say, "What manner of child is this? " and 
the strongest hopes were entertained that a brilliant 
future awaited him in the ministry of the Gospel. 

Much surprise was therefore occasioned when he 
suddenly withdrew from all public efforts, justifying 
his conduct by modest references to his youth and 
consequent inexperience. For a time he exercised 
his gifts in more private forms of Christian work. At 
length, yielding to the solicitations of the more 
prudent of his friends and his minister, he began in 
his sixteenth year to preach in different parts of the 
Principality, with good result. Everywhere he went 
it soon became manifest that in Griffith John God 
was preparing a mighty witness for Himself, and pre- 
dictions were not wanting of a fame and career of 
usefulness awaiting him, as great as that of the vene- 
rated Christmas Evans, the Apostle of Wales. 

It was pointed out that a course of study would be 
of great benefit, and his father asked the Eev. E. 
Jacob, the pastor of Ebenezer Chapel, Swansea, if 
" he would teach Griffith a little." The kind-hearted 
pastor had gratuitously rendered similar help to other 
young men who were preparing for the ministry, and 
from the 13th of November, 1848, until September, 
1850, Mr. John resided with him, and received daily 
instruction at his hands. 

In 1849 his father was smitten by the disease to 
which his mother had succumbed, seventeen years 
before, and died of cholera. The bitter grief which 
the son manifested at the grave so kindled the com- 
passion of Mr. Jacob, that he said Griffith should never 
know the lack of an earthly father as long as he lived. 
That vow he faithfully kept, and the relationship thus 
created has been maintained with touching ardour 
on both sides to this day. 

Mr. Jacob was most assiduous in preparing his 
young charge for the career of great usefulness which 



12 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

he felt lay before him. In answer to the questions of 
the College authorities at Brecon, when Mr. John was 
seeking admission, Mr. Jacob penned a series of replies 
beautiful alike for their simplicity and truthfulness. 
While the love and esteem which he bore towards his 
young friend might at that time be regarded as likely 
to increase his estimate, the truth of his state- 
ments, made in March, 1850, has been fully confirmed 
by the lofty and steadfast Christian character main- 
tained by Mr. John, as well as by the unanimous testi- 
mony of strange audiences during nearly forty years 
of successful work. 

All cannot be recorded here, but a few may be 
noted. After claiming the right to speak emphatically, 
by reason of the "long-continued and most advan- 
tageous opportunities " for observing and judging of 
his pupil, Mr. Jacob says : 

" Considering his age, he is decidedly the nearest 
to being a perfect or complete Christian of any I ever 
knew. He is amiable. I have never seen the slightest 
indication of bad temper. He is as humble as a babe 
.... at all times willing to do whatever he is asked 
by those to whom he looks for direction. 

" His preaching talents are in my opinion of an 
extraordinary character. His voice is sweet, his 
delivery easy and fluent. Judging from the present, 
he will in five or six years be the most popular 
minister in Wales. I have heard him talk like an 
orator for a whole hour, and then in a few moments 
arouse the whole congregation to a state of astonish- 
ing excitement ; not by unmeaning declamation, but 
by sound sense and real eloquence. 

" He does not apply to the College because he 
cannot get a sphere of usefulness. Young as he is, 
several of the leading men in some of our churches, 
where he occasionally preaches, have told me, ' We 
do not care to hear any one else if we can have 
Griffith John ; ' but he is far from being of the same 



AT COLLEGE. 13 

views, for he is aware that a minister should have his 
mind well- stored with useful information. 

" I have watched him as carefully as I have been 
able, and the fact is, I have not found a single draw- 
back." 

Mr. John entered college in September, 1850, and 
on the evening of the first Sabbath Mr. Jacob penned 
a characteristic letter full of loving counsel ; particu- 
larly laying stress upon piety, adherence to his pledge 
of total abstinence, " to avoid acquaintance in the 
way of courtship," rigid adherence to promises, fore- 
thought, courtesy towards those who showed him 
hospitality, punctuality upon all occasions ; concluding 
with the injunction, " Eemember ! whatever you are at 
college, so to a very great extent you will be through 
life." 

The last sentence is elucidated for us by the Eev. 
Josiah Jones, who occupied the same study with Mr. 
John, and says that at the time of his entrance into 
college, Mr. John " was a short and slender youth, 
with a frank face and full well-formed forehead, the 
hair curving out as a canopy." Of his moral character 
while at Brecon, which was most exemplary, Mr. Jones 
states, " I don't remember any expression falling from 
him that betokened a low taste, and much less an 
inward moral impurity." Also : " Among Mr. John's 
chief characteristics as a student, showing that during 
all his life there has been a uniform continuity in his 
character, the following may be mentioned : diligence, 
perseverance, and efficiency." 

Mr. John had the advantages of the stimulating 
tuition of the Eev. Professor Henry Griffith, F.G.S., 
who was at the time Principal of the College. Alike 
in mathematics, philosophy, and theology, Professor 
Griffiths showed himself an able and energetic leader 
in study, never evading a difficulty, or contented until 
his students had grappled with and mastered it. 

Mr. John had entered college indulging in the hope 



14 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

of becoming one day a successful and popular minister ; 
but he was not allowed to entertain this long without 
challenge, for God met him, and cast out the earthly 
ambition, putting in its place an ardent longing for 
missionary work among the heathen. 

In March, 1853, Mr. John offered his services to the 
London Missionary Society, and when replying to the 
question, "How long had he entertained the desire 
to be a missionary?" said that it had entered his heart 
soon after the commencement of his college course; 
and that, though there had been fluctuations in its 
strength, he could fairly say that it was a progressive 
one. In confirmation of this it should be stated that 
not long after he entered college, a fellow student 
and himself entered into a solemn covenant to become 
missionaries. This meant a great deal to the popular 
young preacher, who henceforth had to put away all the 
seductive offers of eager churches. One from the im- 
portant Congregational Church of Aberaman severely 
tested his resolution. But God puts one thing against 
another for the proving of His children ; and while 
this invitation was awaiting an answer, the veteran 
missionary, the Eev. David Griffiths, of Madagascar, 
visited the College, and addressed the students with 
great earnestness, concluding by an appeal for labour- 
ers. Mr. John then openly declared his wish and 
determination to be a missionary. 

Having been accepted by the London Missionary 
Society, Mr. John was removed to Bedford in January, 
1854, to give him better opportunities of preaching in 
the English tongue. At the time of his going there, 
one of the tutors said, " I find that Mr. John is so well 
read up, that I do not think I can do much for him." 

Hitherto the bent of his mind had been towards 
Madagascar as a sphere of labour. He writes : " Oh, 
how glad I would be if the doors were opened. My 
heart is there now ! " At that time Madagascar was 
closed to European missionaries by the cruel Queen 



COVENANTING TO BE A MISSIONARY. 15 

Banavalona. But he did not offer any objection when 
asked to go to China, and soon was aglow with 
enthusiasm for the dark-minded millions of the 
Flowery Land. 

Before leaving England, Mr. John married Miss 
Margaret Jane Griffiths, daughter of the Bev. David 
Griffiths, of Madagascar, who was then settled in a 
pastorate at Hay, Breconshire. A more happy selec- 
tion could not have been made, and Mrs. John proved 
herself a successful worker among the women of China. 

His ordination took place at Swansea on Good 
Friday, the 6th of April, 1855, when Ebenezer Chapel 
was packed with an enthusiastic audience, which did 
not conceal the strong emotion felt at parting with 
their eloquent young preacher. Special services were 
also held in the afternoon and evening of the same 
day. On the following Thursday Mr. John preached 
a farewell sermon in the same place, after which a 
testimonial was presented to the young missionary as 
an expression of the esteem and good wishes of his 
friends. 

The Bev. Griffith John and Mrs. John, and the 
Bev. A. "Williamson and Mrs. Williamson, being 
appointed to reinforce the Chinese Mission, sailed for 
Shanghai on the 21st of May, 1855 ; eager for service 
in the "Land of Sinim," as they listened to the 
distinct, though distant cry, "Come over and help 
us!" 





CHAPTER II. 

Shanghai— Buckling on his Armour. 
— -#- — 



'Thy long night is ending 

Of sorrow and .wrong, 
For shame there is glory, 

For weeping a song. 
The new morn is dawning, 

Bursts forth the new sun ; 
The new verdure is smiling, 

The new age is begun." 

-*- 



Dr. Bonar. 



On September the 24th, 1855, the good ship, 
Hamilla Mitchell, bearing the missionaries, 
reached Shanghai after a pleasant and uneventful 
voyage of one hundred and twenty days. Mr. John 
could not have arrived at a more opportune time. 
For forty years missionaries had longed for and 
prayed that an opportunity might be afforded for the 
free proclamation of the Gospel to the country people 
of China. Their prayers were about to be answered. 
For five years the Taiping rebellion, headed by Hung- 
sew-tsuen, had ravaged the fairest part of the country; 
while the growing influence of the Western Powers of 
Europe claimed the attention of the Imperial Govern- 
ment. For ages this Government had exercised a 
strong conserving power, now its grasp slackened, 



SHANGHAI— BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR. 17 

and the growing laxity of its sway was utilised by the 
missionaries in the seaports to make evangelistic 
tours inland. Under the treaty of Nanking, made 
between Great Britain and China in 1842, foreigners 
were only allowed to go a day's journey from the 
Treaty ports. The door had been gradually opening, 
and at the time of Mr. John's arrival the country was 
practically free to travellers with peaceful objects in 
view. 

Mr. John entered upon his work with characteristic 
ardour. He had studied hard during the voyage, and 
now applied himself to the acquisition of the language, 
with the hope that in six months he would be able to 
preach. He writes in his first letter to England : " I 
am anxious, I long to be able to speak of Christ to the 
people. I can just ask them at present if they believe 
in Jesus, and tell them that it is the best thing they 
possibly can do. Pray for me that I may be made 
eminently useful in China." This request was re- 
sponded to by many hearts, and we trust that the 
facts recorded in these pages will prove that those 
prayers have been answered. 

While the house intended for them was being 
repaired, Mr. and Mrs. John stayed with the veteran 1 
missionary, Dr. Medhurst, whose forty years of 
pioneering toil were fast drawing to a close. Like 
Israel of old, he had long sought to enter the goodly 
land his heart was set upon, and during the previous 
year he had been able to make a few preaching jour- 
neys into the country about Shanghai. His reward 
was at hand, and a part of it would be the revelation 
that the man who stood by him in his latter days was 
designed by God to carry the Gospel to the central 
and western provinces of China. Shanghai was at 
that time the residence of twenty-five missionaries 
belonging to various British and American societies. 
These all accorded a hearty welcome to the new 
comers, who soon felt at home with their fellow- 

c 



18 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

labourers in the mission-field. In January, 1856, 
the heart of the young missionary was gladdened by 
the birth of a son, whom he named Griffith ; but the 
child was usually spoken of under his Chinese name 
of Mei-foh. In June of the same year Mr. John 
modestly says, respecting his first direct efforts, "For 
some months I have been in the habit of going into 
the temples, the tea gardens, and other places to dis- 
tribute tracts and preach in my humble way. I am 
able now to speak for half-an-hour or three-quarters 
with considerable ease and fluency. To my great 
satisfaction, I find that I am very well understood. 
This is a great thing in speaking the Chinese lan- 
guage, because so much depends on the tones and 
mere rising or falling, shortening or lengthening of 
the sound makes all the difference imaginable in a 
word which is in every other aspect the same, that is, 
if written in the Eoman character. This makes the 
acquisition of the spoken language both a tedious and 
difficult task. The written language is a colossus of 
an affair. It is decidedly difficult of acquisition, as 
will appear from the fact that no European has 
hitherto mastered it. I like the study of it very much. 
It is no tiresome work to me. Its difficulty only 
intensifies my desire to grapple with it, and finally to 
lay it prostrate at my feet. The conquering of this 
language is worth a long and manly struggle. Who 
would feel it a burdensome task to learn a language 
which is intended by the providence of God to be a 
channel through which Divine truth, like a life-giving 
stream, is to flow into four hundred millions of thirsty 
but immortal souls. Such a thought is sufficient to 
call out all the energies of one's being. Where is 
there a nobler object or a higher end for the entire 
consecration of all the powers and faculties of the 
soul ? The glory of God in the salvation of souls is 
the noblest work under heaven." This may be taken 
as the key-note of Mr. John's life and work in China, 



20 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

After a few months he accompanied Mr. Edkins 
and other missionaries in various preaching journeys, 
being absent two or three weeks, and penetrating 150 
miles inland. He says, " We have access to millions 
of the most callous, indifferent, worldly-minded, and 
irreligious people." 

For several months in the latter part of 1856 the 
country surrounding Shanghai suffered much from 
drought, and at first both mandarins and people were 
most assiduous in praying to their idols to send ferti- 
lising showers. As these did not come, the people 
left off religious services, and said the idols were 
useless. The priests went round the streets for several 
days in solemn procession, but in vain. They were 
then spoken of with contempt by all the people, who 
seemed inclined to listen to the missionaries and to 
appreciate their efforts. Alas ! when the rains did fall 
they soon sank into their former indifference. 

Mr. John had hitherto accompanied older mission- 
aries on preaching journeys, but on October 31st, 
1856, he started upon an expedition, taking only 
Wong the colporteur as assistant. 

The first place of importance which they visited 
was the large city of Swong Kong, 40 miles distant 
from Shanghai. They anchored for the night four 
miles below the city, and upon awaking the next 
morning, Mr. John found they were entering the west 
gate of the city. It was the time for the Annual 
Examinations, and candidates for literary honours 
crowded the streets, affording intelligent audiences 
wherever the missionary and his helper chose to 
preach. They had a good supply of books, which 
were eagerly sought after. No marks of displeasure 
or ill-will were manifested by any of the people. 

In the afternoon, as they were walking about dis- 
tributing books, Wong offered one to a respectable- 
looking man, who after reading the title-page, tore 
the book in pieces. Wong was much disconcerted, 



SHANGHAI — BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR. £ A1 

and began to remonstrate with the man in a loud 
tone for not returning the book if he did not like it. 
Mr. John stood astonished, as notwithstanding the 
thousands of books and tracts he had distributed, he 
had never seen this done before. When the people 
around saw that the missionaries were annoyed at the 
unprecedented insolence, they begged them not to be 
angry, as the man \vas a Roman Catholic. 

After a long day's toil, Mr. John and his assistant 
returned to the boat, and gathering the boatmen 
around him, Mr. John read with them, and explained 
the New Testament and prayed. He declares that 
this was the happiest hour of the day. The morrow 
was the Lord's Day. Alas ! there is no Sabbath in 
China. There is nothing but noise, bustle, tumult, 
confusion and impiety, as at any other time. The 
preachers, however, had larger and more attentive 
congregations of the graduates. 

The following day they returned to Shanghai, Mr. 
John having an attack of fever and ague ; but thanks 
to the prompt and energetic treatment of Dr. Lockhart, 
he soon recovered. 

Whilst thus energetic in the country, Mr. John and 
his helpful wife were not neglectful of those in and 
around their own home. They had engaged a female 
servant who knew nothing of God, of a Saviour, or of 
the future. Mrs. John instructed her daily, and Mr. 
John at family worship had opportunities of speaking 
to her. She became very anxious to know the truth 
and to feel its blessed influence. She soon desired 
baptism ; and with her two children was admitted into 
the church, of w 7 hich she afterwards proved herself to 
be a worthy member. 

As early as September, 1857, Mr. John had projects 
for going far into the interior, beyond the reach of 
foreign influence, and labouring for the spiritual welfare 
of the people. But the time had not come, and he re- 
mained at Shanghai, studying and working so as to 



22 GKIFFITH JOHN. 

make himself " a workman that needeth not to be 
ashamed." He informed his friends that his two 
years' residence had corrected his estimate of the work, 
and the immense difficulties w T hich lay in the way of 
the Gospel in China. He says : " The good work is 
moving but very slowly. The people are as hard as 
steel. They are eaten up both soul and body by the 
world, and do not seem to feel that there can be 
reality in anything beyond sense. To them our doc- 
trine is foolishness, our talk jargon. We discuss and 
beat them in argument. We reason them into silence 
and shame ; but the whole effort falls upon them like 
showers upon a sandy desert. Sometimes I am ready 
to think that China is doomed ; but there is a promise 
which dissipates the gloom, viz., that those ' from the 
land of Sinim ' are to come. The teachers China has 
listened to for thousands of years have taught only 
things respecting the present life. Confucius, while 
speaking admirably on propriety, justice, faithfulness, 
the proper governing of the family, the ruling of the 
kingdom, and the promotion of peace on earth, says, 
6 Eespect the gods, but keep them at a distance.' 
The Chinaman's way of doing this is to think of 
them as little as possible." 

In October, 1857, Mr. John and the Eev. J. Edkins 
visited Soochow, which is regarded by the Chinese as 
one of their richest and most beautiful cities. They 
say that to be happy on earth one must be born at 
Soochow, live in Canton, and die in Soochow, for in 
the first are the handsomest people, in the second the 
richest luxuries, and in the third the best coffins. It 
lies north-west of Shanghai ; and within the city 
walls, which are twelve miles in circumference, there 
are about one million and a half of people. 

No foreigner had previously visited this city un- 
disguised. No sooner had the missionaries got 
within the gates than they were very politely invited 
by an official to walk into his house and be seated. 



SHANGHAI — BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR. 23 

In about two minutes another official of higher rank 
appeared and cross-questioned the visitors, after which 
he said that he could not permit them to proceed into 
the city. They remonstrated with him, upon which 
he said, " Well, you cannot go through this gate, you 
had better try another." Seeing it was useless to 
press the matter, they returned to their boat, and gave 
the boatmen orders to enter one of the water gates. 
This was successfully done, and they visited the chief 
places of attraction. Then, having preached to a 
large number of people, they returned to the boat, 
much pleased with their success. Their presence 
excited much curiosity, but they were not molested ; 
so on the following day they penetrated to the heart 
of the city, and distributed several hundred copies of 
the New Testament. 

Mr. John now devoted himself almost exclusively to 
itinerating, and visited a large number of towns and 
cities. Early in 1858, accompanied by a brother 
missionary, he visited the two large cities of Kia-hing 
and Kia-shan, about one hundred miles from Shanghai. 
They resolved to alter the usual plan of preaching 
two or three long sermons in the course of the day, 
and adopted the method of making short and simple 
statements of Gospel truth, and earnest and affectionate 
appeals to the hearers' consciences. These occupied 
only a few minutes ; and by commencing early in the 
morning, and preaching simultaneously till late in the 
evening for several days, there was hardly a street or 
the corner of a street in these two cities in which the 
glad tidings were not proclaimed to thousands for 
the first time. The multitudes listened attentively, 
no one interrupted or expressed any ill-will. Many 
seemed touched, but the majority treated the message 
with indifference or contempt. Mr. John at this time 
expressed his conviction that the old idea that China 
must be w T orked upon from above — first the wise, rich 
and noble, and then descending to the lower classes — 



24 GRIFFITH JOHN 

was utterly absurd. He stated that the experience of 
both Eoman Catholic and Protestant missionaries, 
proved that China was no exception to the general 
rule, and said, "If we would convert China, we must 
begin with the common people, and devote our energies 
principally to their enlightenment." 

On the 29th of March, 1858, Mr. John and his 
family left Shanghai for Ping-hu (the peaceful lake), 
which is about 200 Chinese miles distant. Here they 
rented a house outside the city, and during the sum- 
mer he spent much time there, preaching daily to 
excellent congregations. A catechumen class was 
formed of six inquirers, and afterwards a church was 
established. His purpose was to establish similar 
stations in the various cities near Shanghai, and 
itinerate among them, superintending the native 
assistant missionaries and the work. 

Soon his eyes and heart moved in the direction of 
Hang-chow, the Athens of China, and events allowed 
him to carry out his purpose in the succeeding month. 
Starting with his family on the 19th of April, they 
arrived at Sung Kiang the following evening, and the 
next morning visited the residence of the native as- 
sistant missionary, which was called " Zion House/' 
where the members of the church had assembled. 
Several female inquirers, hearing that Mrs. John was 
accompanying her husband, had also come together. 
Social affairs in China then caused it to be thought 
very imprudent for females to meet a man who was 
a stranger, and especially a foreigner. Mrs. John's 
presence, however, dispelled all fear, and these good 
women gladly came forward to make a public con- 
fession of their faith in Jesus. 

When Mrs. John entered the house, an immense 
crowd followed, and as many as possibly could crowd- 
ed into the " ka-dong " (guest room) where she sat. 
The host and hostess found it impossible to restrain 
the curiosity of the people, and Mr. John had to go 



SHANGHAI — BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR. 25 

out and exhort them to be quiet. Upon his return, 
the visitors sat down to a repast of fruit, cakes, and 
tea. The food was placed upon the table in plates, but 
there were none to eat from. The guests were helped 
to food by the lady of the house, who taking a portion 
with her fingers, placed it upon the table, which was 
not very clean. When all had finished, the table was 
cleared, and wiped down with a piece of paper. 

Mr. John examined the female candidates, and 
those who satisfied him were admitted to the church 
by baptism. One was the widow of a mandarin who 
had been killed by the Taiping rebels. The other 
two women admitted were mother and daughter, the 
infant of the latter being also baptized. Her husband 
had been received into the church several months 
previously. 

A service for the men was next conducted by Mr. 
John in the adjoining room, and five were admitted 
as members. Meanwhile, the women were employed 
in critically examining Mrs. John. Some remarked 
that Yang-sian-sang's wife was much handsomer. 
One thought Mrs. John must be clever ; while another 
was struck with the smoothness of her hair, and 
praised it volubly. They agreed that she spoke the 
Shanghai dialect very well. This conversation was 
sustained until the men's meeting ended, and the 
missionaries left. They stayed over Sunday at 
Ping-hu, and arrived at Hang-chow on Wednesday. 
They visited the Si-hu (west lake) the following day, 
which happened to be the birthday of the goddess 
Quaning. On the way several boats and junks were 
seen full of passengers returning from the worship of 
this goddess. This is the most flourishing seat of the 
Buddhist religion, and some of these pilgrims had 
travelled more than 200 miles to attend these cere- 
monies. The lake is nearly round, and the city of 
Hang-chow skirts the eastern shore ; while opposite are 
hills, with numbers of Buddhist monasteries placed 



26 GEIFFITH JOHN. 

amidst what is said to be the most beautiful scenery 
in China. There is a most picturesque island in the 
lake, connected with the city by a bank, which is used 
as a promenade. This bank was the work of the poet 
Su-tung-p'o. When standing in the Tang-tsi (sum- 
mer house) on the island, a remarkable echo can be 
obtained from the opposite hill. After several words 
have been uttered they are distinctly repeated. 

Hiring one of the many pleasure boats, they visited 
the Tsing-tsel-zz'l temple, where there are 500 life- 
sized gilded figures representing disciples of Buddha 
(Sohangs), among them being several deceased Em- 
perors of the present dynasty. The imperial disciples 
are distinguished by umbrellas hanging over their 
heads. Near the temple is the tomb of a famous 
warrior, Yo-lan-ye, who defeated the Kiu Tartars and 
drove them beyond the Yellow Eiver. His enemies 
procured his recall, and assassinated him in prison. 
The leader of these conspirators was Tsing-keno, 
whose descendants will on no account enter the city 
of Hang-chow, where his remains are exhibited in a 
humiliating position. The missionaries were interested 
in the large monastery of Tian-tso, where 500 monks 
live. The magnificent stone way leading up to it 
between the hills was frequented by beggars of every 
description, blind, dumb, lame, many with open sores 
exposed to excite compassion, who cried to Buddha 
to help them, while they made persistent efforts to 
obtain alms from visitors. 

In the Ling-zin monastery is a large temple, which 
has a square hall with the light so arranged that it 
falls with equal radiance upon each row of 50 life-sized 
gilded Sohangs. The priests here were rather proud 
of their cook-house, which contained three immense 
copper boilers, one capable of cooking sufficient rice 
for 1,600 persons. 

Opposite to this temple was a cave in the rock 
which had been made into a temple. The rocky 



SHANGHAI — BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR. 27 

sides of the cave were sculptured with various figures 
of Buddha. Here the priest pointed to a small round 
hole in the wall, and said that the head of Buddha was 
to be seen there. The missionaries, however, looked 
in vain. They must have lacked the faith needful for 
such a sight. Here, too, was a pond with several 
snakes in it. Mr. John asked the priest why they 
did not kill them. He was quite shocked at the idea, 
and said, " If I killed one of these I might in so doing 
kill perhaps my grandfather." Several missionaries 
had visited this Buddhist parade in the previous year, 
and conversed with some of the most learned priests 
upon the nature and claims of Christianity. The 
head of one of the monasteries besought them not to 
oppose the old religion, but to advocate Christianity 
as parallel with and not antagonistic to Buddhism. 
He invited them on these terms to come and erect a 
church close by the magnificent monastery. 

This great city of Hang-chow contains over a million 
inhabitants, while the trade of several provinces meets 
here, and contributes much to its prosperity. 

They returned to Sung Kiang, passing through 
many places on the way where they preached and 
gave away tracts and books. Three women awaited 
baptism at this place, also three children, and the 
missionaries were much encouraged at the condition 
of the little church. After a most successful tour, the 
party reached Shanghai again on May 14th, 1858. 

It must not be supposed that Mr. John's time was 
devoted chiefly to seeing strange sights. He pursued 
at Hang-chow, as elsewhere, that steady course of 
preaching and the distribution of tracts and books, 
which paved the way for further missionary effort 
in this beautiful city. 

While meditating further efforts in the neighbour- 
hood of Ping-hu, Mr. John had a house offered him to 
preach and live in by a native of the city of Sung- 
Kiang-fu. As family circumstances made it advisable 



28 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

to draw- nearer to Shanghai, he accepted the kind 
offer, and left Ping-hu towards the end of July, 1858. 

Sung Kiang-fu is a departmental city in the pro- 
vince of Kiang-Su, and about 40 miles from Shanghai. 
The people pride themselves upon their superiority 
in knowledge and polite manners. A missionary had 
attempted to settle there several months previously, 
but had to leave through the interference of the 
Mandarin. About ten days after Mr. John had be- 
gun his energetic efforts, the town constable tried to 
frighten him away. Perceiving that unless bold action 
were taken the whole body of petty officials would 
carry on a series of vexatious annoyances, he resolved 
to address the Mandarin direct, informing him of his 
presence in the city, the object of his visit, and some 
of the provisions of the New Tientsin Treaty between 
China and England. He got his pundit to write a 
very polite letter, and sent it by his servant. No 
official notice was taken of this, but peace reigned for 
a time. After a while the petty officers recommenced 
their stealthy approaches, but the missionary was 
equal to the occasion. He told them that he had 
already written to the Mandarin, and that the affair 
now stood between himself and that high officer. This 
proved omnipotent, and scattered the selfish herd. 
Splendid congregations daily listened to the message 
of salvation, and in three weeks there were five can- 
didates for church membership. 

The birth of another son, in September (whom he 
named David), compelled him to return to Shanghai. 
The church was, however, well-cared-for by the 
evangelist in charge. 

Early in October, 1858, Mr. John and three of his 
brother missionaries resolved to make an extended 
tour, preaching and distributing books in all the 
cities along the Grand Canal, as far as its entrance 
into the Yellow Eiver. They also were anxious to 
ascertain what influence the capture of the Taku Forts 



30 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

and the Treaty of Tientsin had had upon the people, 
and how far mission work could be carried on. 

The Grand Canal is 650 miles in length, and is 
divided into three parts, which were made under three 
different dynasties. By it and the rivers it connects, 
there is an almost uninterrupted water-way made 
from north to south of the Empire, i.e., from Peking 
to Canton. Between the Yellow Kiver and the Biver 
Yang-tsi, the Canal is carried along an artificial 
mound of earth, and is flanked by walls of stone, upon 
the stability of which many cities depend for safety. 
Upon this Canal are dozens of custom-houses, and 
the chief duty of the officials seems to be to apprehend 
all suspicious characters. The most formidable of 
these custom-houses was that at Hiibz-Gwan, ten 
miles beyond Soochow, which was usually avoided; 
the few travellers who had been so audacious as to 
attempt to pass it having been summarily turned 
back. On this occasion, however, the boat which lay 
across the Canal swung round to let them pass, as 
soon as the presence of four Western barbarians was 
made known. At the other end of the town, how- 
ever, they were vigorously challenged by an official 
crying out : 

" Stop, what boat is that ? Who have you inside ?" 
He was told that they were foreigners from Shanghai. 
" Are they merchants ? Have they any merchandise ? " 

" No " said Mr. John, " we are preachers ; our only 
object is to preach and distribute books." The hear- 
ing his own language spoken seemed to conciliate the 
official, and to excite confidence; and after writing 
down their names, and the giving of a few books on 
their part, they were allowed to proceed. 

The party next came to Chang-chew fu, a large city 
mentioned by Marco Polo as " a great and noble city," 
the residence of the Governor-General. Here they 
found a strong chain across the Canal, and the 
custom-house people were thrown into great con- 



SHANGHAI — BUCKLING ON HIS AKMOUR. 31 

sternation by the sudden appearance of the Shanghai 
boat. They were still more perplexed when informed 
that the foreigners intended to cross the Yang- 
tsi. Evidently wishing to consult their superiors 
the party were detained for the night. The next 
morning they were allowed to proceed to the next city, 
Yan-yang, where two military mandarins appeared on 
their arrival, and inquired into their objects. Upon 
examining the books minutely the mandarins said, 
" We perceive your object is to exhort the people to 
turn from the bad and follow the good." A long 
conversation ensued, and all the force of Chinese logic 
and eloquence was employed to induce them to return. 
The country was said to be in commotion, robbers 
were abroad, the rebels were active. But the mission- 
aries distinctly said they would not go back. The 
following morning the literary Mandarin came with a 
large retinue to pay his compliments. He was very 
affable, and promised to send a boat to guard them 
as far as the next station. 

After he left an English service was held, and also 
large native congregations were preached to. A 
present of cakes and dishes, prepared in the highest 
Chinese style, was received from the Mandarin, and 
the following morning a return present of medical and 
other books was sent by the missionaries. He then 
sent another present of tea, cakes, and dates. The 
party now passed on, and were treated with courtesy 
all the way. 

The common people were at a loss how to address 
the missionaries. Mr. John heard a woman say, 

" Behold ! there is a little devil." 

"Yes," said the woman addressed, "he is a real 
devil," meaning a foreigner and not a rebel — the latter 
allowing the hair to grow upon their heads like 
Europeans, instead of shaving it off in Chinese 
fashion. 

In returning they took another route, and visited 



32 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

many cities not previously entered by missionaries. 
They also spent four days at Hang-chow — (the earthly 
paradise). Here they preached freely, although but 
a short time before a missionary venturing there had 
been summoned before the Mandarin, and sent back 
to Shanghai under an escort. 

In June, 1859, Mr. John and the Eev. W. Muirhead 
travelled to the Yellow Eiver, purposing to go a few 
days journey beyond Hwai-ngan-fu if practicable. 
It may be well to note a few exceptional incidents of 
this journey. 

Upon arriving at the city of Kiang-yin, early on the 
morning of the 8th of June, they found the depart- 
mental examinations in progress, and 3000 students 
assembled. After Mr. John had spoken for some 
time to a number of the literati, one of them coloured 
up and assumed a threatening attitude. No notice 
was taken, and when done speaking Mr. John walked 
quietly away. Hearing a noise behind, he turned and 
found several of the literati trying to excite the people. 
He tried to pacify them, but they grew more furious, 
and the ringleader, shutting his fist, threatened to 
strike the missionary. Knowing from experience that 
it was as dangerous to show fear as temerity, he 
walked along leisurely. They then cried out that he 
was not a foreigner, but a long-haired rebel in disguise. 
He told them with emphasis that he was an English- 
man, and observed with pardonable pride that this 
made some of them turn pale. " Ergo Komanus sum " 
never had greater moral force than " I am an English- 
man!" did at that moment in China. Mr. John 
prudently informed the Mandarin of the facts of the 
case, who told him that strict orders had been given 
to all the constables that foreigners were to be properly 
treated. The missionaries preached in the afternoon 
to large and attentive audiences. 

The following day they crossed the Eiver Yang-tsi, 
which was five miles wide. As soon as they reached 






> 
O 




34 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

firm ground the missionaries landed, and walked to the 
city of Tsing-kiang. They were now in new fields of 
missionary effort, and Mr. John says: "I know not 
whether anyone experiences emotion worthy to be 
compared with the thrill of joy which the missionary 
feels, when permitted for the first time to point out to 
a sin-enslaved people the Lamb of God which taketh 
away the sin of the world." At many of the towns 
the whole population turned out to gaze on the 
features and strange-looking clothes of the visitors. 
Mr. John feared the excitement would prevent the 
people from understanding the teaching, but hoped 
the next preacher 'would find a way prepared for him. 
At Kiang-yein the missionaries had thousands of 
hearers, and observed among the crowd many rich 
and apparently well-educated men. 

Here Mr. John had a long conversation with a 
Chinese colporteur, a native of Tan-tu. He was a 
quiet, respectable layman, who, pitying the ignorance 
and wickedness of men, devoted his time to distribut- 
ing Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian books. Many 
rich and learned men supported him, and Mr. John 
believed that the advocates of the three religions had 
in this way united to actively propagate their faiths 
in opposition to Christianity. 

Upon arriving at Tsing-Kiang-fu thousands of the 
most boisterous class of the people collected. The 
missionaries sent their cards to the Mandarin, . and 
were soon visited by one of military blue-button rank, 
who was very talkative, and invited them to take tea 
at his " vile cottage." They suggested that it would 
not be safe to leave their boats, but he said, "Don't 
mind that," and then ordered Sedan chairs to be 
brought for all. When the Mandarin rose to go, he 
said, " You better not come." They supposed that he 
expected them to decline his invitation, and was 
disgusted that they had taken him at his word. 

The visit of the Mandarin was followed by a host of 



SHANGHAI — BUCKLING ON HIS ARMOUR. 35 

officials of white-button rank sent from the different 
yaniens — all asking the same questions, their object 
being to compare notes. Several were ordered to 
remain on board, as they said to protect the boat, but 
really to watch the movements of the missionaries. 
Two soldiers were also stationed ashore to keep the 
crowd in order. 

As the missionaries wished to visit the ancient bed 
of the Yellow Eiver, they applied for chairs, which one 
of their guardians promised to get them, but he must 
first mention it to his superiors. Soon chairs appeared, 
and when about to start one of the official friends 
asked the missionaries to wait a little until another 
message was sent to the Ho-tai. All at once the 
chairs disappeared, never to return. The mission- 
aries' patience having been tried for six hours, they 
determined to take a decisive step. Making a final 
application they were told that it was getting late, and 
they had better wait until the morning. Indignant 
at this duplicity the missionaries said they would not 
wait but walk, and springing ashore made their way 
with ease through the crowd. This manoeuvre, being 
altogether unexpected, took the officials by surprise. 
They were followed by two white-buttons and a couple 
of strong fellows, who did good service in keeping back 
the crowd. 

Mr. John writes, "We soon reached the deserted 
bed of the Yellow Eiver, and found it as the Chinese 
say, ' as dry as dust ! ' We not only crossed it dry- 
shod, but converted it into a temporary pulpit. 
Where but a few years ago the Hwang rolled majesti- 
cally, dreaded by the inhabitants of the plain, now 
cottages are built, gardens planted, sheep are browsing, 
and carriages are passing to and fro. Here and 
there are pools of water, but no stream. At this place 
the bed is nearly as high as the banks, and the 
surface deposit is of the finest sand. 

" It must be left to the geologist to account precisely 



36 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

for this mighty change. To an amateur it looks as if 
the old Hwang had choked up its channel with the 
sand and mud it used to carry down, and that though 
it now finds its way by Tsan-chew into the Gulf of 
Pechele, it will ere long close the new channel in a 
similar way, and be forced back to the old one, or 
compelled to seek for a third." 

This prediction has not yet been fulfilled ; but in the 
autumn of 1887 old Hwang did break through his 
banks much higher up, and gave an earnest of what 
he may yet do in that way, by inundating a large 
tract of country and destroying much life and 
property. 

When the missionaries returned to their boat they 
learned from the teacher that the straightforwardness, 
fearlessness, and original powers of foreigners had been 
the topics of conversation among the officials during 
their absence. They were anxious to proceed further, 
but had no passports, and the officials and mandarins 
kept up a complete system of espionage, and forbade 
anyone to speak or give information, so they deter- 
mined to return, which they did without molestation. 
It was observed that here the means of communication 
were horses, mules, asses, wheelbarrows, and carriages 
drawn by mules. They saw only one camel. 








CHAPTER III. 



The Taiping Rebellion. 



-#*- 



" Hear ye the truth, and hearing it, obey ; 

Know ye the truth, the truth shall make you free ; 
Love not the midnight, love the lightsome day, 

'Tis life and liberty. 
The Free One makes you free ; He breaks the rod ; 

He bids you lift your heads to sky and sun, 
As freemen of the everlasting God, 
Kneeling to Him alone." 

Dr. Bonar. 
* 

It is an important fact and worth noting that in the 
remarkable longevity of the Chinese State its life has 
not only been broken but also preserved by innumer- 
able rebellions and changes of dynasty. Eevolution 
is to the Chinaman something more than it is even 
to the modern Parisian, being his only constitutional 
means of getting rid of bad governments, and is 
associated in his mind with patriotic deeds of heroism, 
of noble self-sacrifices, and with some of the brightest 
periods of the national history. 

•It has usually happened that the numerous 
dynasties have been established by men of noble 
virtue and great force of character. Succeeding gene- 



38 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

rations have deteriorated until some Emperor has been 
reached who combined debauchery with cruelty, and 
only worked for evil in his ruling of the State. Then 
came ruin, and with it some patriot rose to say like 
Tang, who destroyed the famous Hea dynasty, " I 
dread the Supreme Euler, so I dare not refuse to 
destroy the wicked sovereign." 

The Manchu dynasty of Ta-tsing, although labour- 
ing under the disadvantage of being Tartars, had 
reigned for 200 years with moderation, when between 
the years 1830 and 1840 an unusual number of 
rebellions, inundations, and famines caused great 
discontent among the people. To this must be added 
the growing power of foreigners, and troubles arising 
therefrom. 

Thus the country was very unsettled when Hung- 
sew-tsuen, the Taiping chief, arose. He was a poor 
lad, of the despised Hakka race, who were always, 
in feeling at least, "in opposition" to the Government. 
He was possessed of an able mind, and essentially 
Chinese in his ways of thinking. From some cause 
unknown he failed in his several attempts to take his 
degree at Canton. Being of a very ambitious turn 
of mind, he had to resort to unofficial ways of obtain- 
ing notoriety, so in 1837 he had trances, proclaimed 
himself a heavenly prince, and fixed upon his door- 
post a proclamation of " The noble principles of the 
Heavenly King, the Sovereign King Tsuen." It 
should be noted that this proclamation was made 
before he became acquainted with Christianity, and 
afterwards he never abated one jot of his claim to 
supreme rule on earth. In 1843 he began to study 
Christian tracts, and in 1847 put himself under the 
instruction of Mr. J. Eoberts, an American missionary 
in Canton. His actions lead us to conclude that he 
was not really an impartial searcher after truth, but 
rather a seeker of newer and more potent principles 
than those taught by the classic books of China, 



THE TAIPING REBELLION. 39 

which should give increased force and shape to his 
claim to a divine mission. His writings do not show 
that he appreciated the real spirit of Christianity, 
but the skill with which he turned some of its 
doctrines to his own use w T as really wonderful. These 
results were beyond the power of a merely cunning 
impostor, and go far to prove that he was sincere, 
and that his great talent was aided by a profound 
belief in himself. 

This was the man who was to sweep over this great 
land, causing devastation in sixteen provinces and 
six hundred cities. 

In 1851 Hung-sew-tsuen commenced his march 
through China, establishing himself in 1853 in 
Nanking , the ancient capital of the Empire, which 
city he held until his suicide in June, 1864. Here 
he entirely secluded himself within the walls of a 
large palace, allowing no male attendant to enter 
beyond the outer court. Within, the Heavenly Prince 
was waited upon by his numerous wives and concu- 
bines. Sometimes he held levees, when his great 
men were allowed to approach the throne, but only 
his brothers and Hung-Jen — the Kan Wang (Shield 
King), his cousin and prime-minister — were freely 
admitted to his presence. 

This man was in some respects the most remarkable 
among the Wangs. He had been trained by Dr. 
Legge, and employed as an assistant in the work of 
the London Missionary Society at Hong Kong. This 
he afterwards stated was the happiest period of his 
life. Having acquired much knowledge of the English 
language and of European ways, he tried for two 
years to reach Nanking. After many vicissitudes and 
narrow escapes, he joined his cousin, the Heavenly 
King, in 1859, and was soon afterwards appointed 
"Kan Wang," the Shield King. 

Hung-sew-tsuen believed, and his followers professed 
the same, that he was distinguished from other men 



40 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

by being a younger son of God and the brother of 
Jesus Christ, with whom he was co-equal, and that he 
was commissioned to give a new revelation to mankind. 

The missionaries resident in Shanghai were natu- 
rally desirous of ascertaining by personal observation 
the exact state of affairs among the Taipings, and 
also their religious views and mode of life. A party 
of five, including Mr. John, visited Soochow, not 
however without passing through some novel experi- 
ences. Mr. John says that the events of twelve 
months seemed to be condensed into a week. The 
second night they were in danger of being set upon 
by enraged and suspicious villagers. They learned 
the next day that at one time the gongs were about 
to be beaten to summon all the people to action. 
After the missionaries had explained matters the 
crowd dispersed. The third night, the boats were 
anchored between the fire of the villagers and insur- 
gents. The fourth night, the most trying of all, they 
spent among dead bodies that were floating in the 
canal. For two or three hundred yards the boats had 
to be pushed through heaps of bodies in an advanced 
state of decomposition. Many of these people had 
been killed by the insurgents, but the larger number 
were cases of suicide. 

Upon arriving at Soochow the missionaries were 
received in a very friendly way by Li-sen-cheng, who 
was entitled the Chung Wang (Faithful King). This 
man joined the rebellion, under compulsion, as a 
private soldier, and had risen to be a great fighting 
chief. Upon the nomination of his cousin, Hung- 
Jen-Kan, as the Kan Wang (Shield King), the Tien 
Wang (Heavenly Monarch), found it necessary to 
make his two most able generals Wangs also. So 
Li-sen-cheng was called Chung Wang, and Chin-Y- 
ching was made Ying Wang (Heroic King). The 
latter was also called Sz'-yan Kow, the Four-eyed Dog. 

In addition to his remarkable military successes, 



THE TAIPING REBELLION. 41 

the Chung Wang had the character of a good man, 
opposing the excesses of his troops and protecting the 
suffering people. 

The visitors had to wait for an hour and a half, as 
the Ying Wang was paying a visit to his brother 
chief. They were then conducted, amid the firing of 
petards, music, and beating of gongs, to the entrance 
hall, where a long train of 100 officers and servants, 
clothed in robes and caps of red and yellow silk, stood 
facing each other in two rows. Upon stating their 
objection to kneeling before the great man, they were 
allowed to bow, and stand for a minute in front of 
him. They were then conducted to the right of the 
Wang, and stood there during the audience. 

The missionaries told the king the object of their 
visit, and he mentioned several leading Christian 
doctrines, and was satisfied to find that Western 
nations believed in them. He asked if they had 
other subjects to bring forward, and they said that 
some of their countrymen were engaged in trade. It 
would be satisfactory if the silk trade in the provinces 
occupied by his troops was not obstructed. He 
replied that the celestial king desired this, and would 
levy customs accordingly. He willingly accepted a 
present of Bibles and books, and invited the party 
to remain for a few days. They then retired, after 
the same salute as when entering, and were conducted 
on horses to the house of Lien, a high officer, who 
hospitably entertained them for the rest of the 
evening, when upon their request they were taken to 
the boats. 

They observed that the Taipings had destroyed the 
idols everywhere ; and on the walls of the temple at 
Pa-ch-ih was a proclamation exhorting the people to 
desert bad superstition and worship the Heavenly 
Father ; also to bring tribute to the ruler of the new 
dynasty. If they acted thus they would be well 
treated, otherwise they must expect punishment. 



42 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

The leaders of the rebels were acquainted with 
many Christian truths, and always addressed the 
missionaries as " our foreign brethren," saying, " We 
worship the same Heavenly Father, and believe in the 
same Elder Brother (Jesus Christ), why should we 
be at variance? " The soldiers, however, were not a 
promising class of men. 

The Taipings at this time were buoyant with hope, 
and said that, judging from the aspect of affairs, two 
years would be ample time for them to accomplish 
their task of overthrowing the Imperial Government. 

Soon after the return of the missionaries to Shang- 
hai, two letters were received by Mr. Edkins and 
Mr. John. One from the Chung Wang, and the other 
from Hung Jen, the Kan Wang, inviting them to 
Soochow to see the Kan Wang. They felt constrained 
to go, and also very anxious about this man, to 
encourage him in his praiseworthy endeavours to 
spread the truth among the rebels, and to suggest 
plans for his consideration. 

They were surprised to find that the farthest 
Imperial military station was only ten miles from 
Shanghai, and that beyond that country they did not 
meet another person all the way to Soochow. They 
passed a floating bridge made by Imperialists and left 
with the insurgents. A proclamation had been put 
up exhorting the people to attend quietly to their 
trades, and bring in presents as obedient subjects. 

One of the country people said, "It matters little 
who is Emperor, whether Hien-fung (who then 
reigned) or Hung-sew-tsuen, provided we are left in 
our usual peace and quiet." This was the universal 
sentiment. 

The country was devastated and deserted. Where 
once flourishing cities had been, and business marts, 
only ruins remained. The most of the places were 
burnt by the Imperialists. While the insurgents had 
committed some excesses, the people declared that 



THE TAIPING REBELLION. . 43 

they were done by the recruits, and that the old rebels, 
who had been better taught, had been humane in their 
treatment. 

The missionaries reached Soochow on August 2nd, 
1860, and had an interview with the Kan Wang on 
the same day. He made many inquiries about his old 
friends in the Mission at Shanghai, and was pleased 
to hear of the converts made in various places, as well 
as the revival in the West. " The kingdom of Christ," 
said he, " must spread, and overcome every opposition ; 
whatever may become of the celestial dynasty, there 
can be no doubt concerning this matter." He then 
doffed his state robes, dismissed his attendants, and 
had a confidential conversation. The missionaries 
accepted his invitation to dinner, and before partaking, 
at the Kan Wang's proposal, they sang a hymn and 
prayed. He selected one of Dr. Medhurst's hymns, and 
started the tune himself with correctness and warmth. 
The conversation was exclusively upon religious topics, 
as he did not seem to wish to talk about anything else. 

He said his object in going to Nanking was to preach 
the Gospel ; but upon asking permission of his cousin 
the Taiping Wang, he would not hear of it, and in- 
sisted upon promoting Hung Jen. Although devoted 
to the rebel cause, he repeatedly said that he was 
happier when an assistant missionary at Hong Kong 
than as the Shield King of the Taipings. 

The following day the missionaries visited Hung 
Jen, and found him much agitated. His letters to the 
representatives of foreign powers had been returned, 
and he was informed by a foreign merchant, the 
bearer of the letters, that Shanghai was occupied by 
British and French troops. The first act he regarded 
as an insult, the second as a breach of neutrality. 
The missionaries said they could not do more than 
feel sympathy for him, and they had a long conversa- 
tion with him, after which they sung, and the Kan 
Wang prayed fervently that pure Christianity might 



44 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

soon become the religion of China. After this never- 
to-be-forgotten spectacle, the missionaries received 
some presents and returned home. 

They were much gratified with their visit, and 
pleased to find the Kan Wang a devout worshipper of 
God, and a constant reader of the Scriptures and other 
Christian books. 

At this time the city of Sung Kiang was re-taken by 
the rebels, and the flourishing church founded and 
cared for by Mr. John scattered again. 

Even in Shanghai little direct mission work could 
be done as the people were very excited. This excite- 
ment, however, left the missionaries at liberty to care 
for the Nanking refugees, of whom Mr. Edkins and 
Mr. John had from 150 to 200 under special instruction. 
The earnest appeals of the missionaries at this time 
for prayer, that this turmoil might be reduced to 
order, can easily be understood. 

On August 8th, a few days after Mr. John's return 
from Soochow, the insurgents attacked Shanghai. 
They had a sharp engagement with, and utterly 
discomfited the Imperialists a short distance from the 
city. Then marching straight up to the city gate, 
they would have taken the place with ease had it not 
been for the shot and grape which the allied British 
and French troops poured into their midst. They 
attempted to communicate with the foreign officers 
upon the walls, but to no purpose. On Monday 
morning they were seen marching towards the race- 
course, and were immediately driven back. 

It was clear that the insurgents had no intention of 
injuring foreigners or their property. The mission- 
aries afterwards heard that the insurgents were amazed 
at the manner of their reception, especially as they 
had received no official intimation that the allied 
forces intended to hold the city and resist them. 
After this repulse they soon disappeared. 

Though checked at Shanghai, the rebels were most 



THE TAIPING REBELLION. 45 

active elsewhere, and another formidable insurrection 
broke out in the province of Shan-si. 

Thus things continued throughout the autumn of 
1860, when Mr. John resolved to go boldly to Nanking, 
the seat of the Taiping Government, and endeavour 
to obtain from the Tien Wang an edict of religious 
toleration. Ht was accompanied by Mr. Kloekers, 
of the English Baptist Mission, and two native brethren 
who spoke the Canton dialect. The distance to Nan- 
king was about 250 miles, and they were received with 
marked respect and treated as brethren in all the 
towns they passed through. The journey was a 
complete success, and the edict obtained gave per- 
mission to all missionaries, whether Protestant or 
Catholic, to live in the insurgents' territory and carry 
on mission work. The wording of this edict is in 
some parts high-flown but that was unavoidable, 
seeing it was written by the Tien Wang's eldest son, 
who was about twelve years old. His father requested 
him to write it, being anxious that he should feel 
interested in the propagation of the Gospel. The 
following extracts however give the meaning of the 
whole : — 

" I learn that the foreign teacher Griffith John and 
his friends, esteeming the kingdom of Heaven and 
reverencing and believing in my Father (God) and 
my adopted Father (Christ) . . . have come for the 
express purpose of requesting permission to spread 
abroad the true doctrine. Seeing, however, that the 
present is a time of war, and that the soldiers are 
scattered abroad in every direction, I am afraid that 
the missionaries might be injured by following the 
rabble soldiery, and that thus serious consequences 
might ensue. Still I truly perceive that these 
(missionaries) are sincere and faithful men, and that 
they count it nothing to suffer with Christ, and 
because of this I esteem them very highly. 

" Let the Kings (Wangs) inform all the officers and 




STREET SCENE IN SHANGHAI. 



THE TAIPING EEBELLIOX. 47 

others that they must all act lovingly and harmo- 
niously towards these men, and by no means engender 
contention and strife and let these (mission- 
aries) be treated exceedingly well. Respect this." 

Although the Taipings fell into many grievous 
errors, the seeds of Christianity were doubtless in the 
hearts of the leaders and those who had long joined 
the revolt. They did one good thing, by creating a 
vacuum, not only in the temples, destroying the idols, 
but also in the hearts of the people. It was the work 
of the missionary to fill up this void. With reference 
to the edict Mr. John said, " They have done this not 
in ignorance, but with their eyes quite open to the 
difference which exists between them and ourselves." 

The great fighting chief Chung Wang, who was at 
Nanking, asked Mr. John to inform the Foreign 
Brethren for him that the following were his views : — 

"You have had the Gospel for upwards of 1,800 
years ; we only, as it were, eight days. Your know- 
ledge of it ought to be correct and extensive, ours 
must necessarily be limited and imperfect. You must 
therefore bear with us for the present, and we will 
gradually improve. As for the Gospel it is one, and 
must be propagated throughout the w T orld. Let the 
Foreign Brethren all know that we are determined to 
uproot idolatry, and plant Christianity in its place." 

Mr. John also confirmed this determination by 
writing, "All the way up from Soochow to Nanking, the 
idols are destroyed." He also informed the Directors of 
the London Missionary Society that " the rebels were 
centuries ahead of the Imperialists." 

Mr. John fully intended leaving Shanghai to reside 
in Nanking, but after much thought and consultation 
with his senior brethren, he thought it would be 
premature to do so then, as communication between 
the places was nearly severed, and he would be depen- 
dent upon the rebels for support. This dependence, 
he feared, would undermine his influence and injure 



48 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

the mission. Another British expedition was also 
about to proceed up the Yang-tsi, and he mentions the 
probable opening of the ports of Hankow and Kin 
Kiang. He says, in making this first mention of Han- 
kow, "It should by all means be occupied by our 
Society. A more important or inviting sphere of 
missionary labour China does not present." This 
forecast has been amply fulfilled. The Kev. Dr. 
Mullens, the late Foreign Secretary of the London 
Missionary Society, whose acquaintance with and ex- 
perience of Missions in many lands constituted him a 
competent judge, said years after, when he had visited 
Hankow, "It is the finest mission station in the 
world." 

The matter for immediate decision was how should 
he employ the winter. A number of young brethren, 
who arrived in the autumn of 1859, were able to assist 
the senior missionaries in the limited work about 
Shanghai, and Mr. John determined to join the Eev. 
Joseph Edkins at Chefoo, in the province of Shan- 
tung. With his usual promptness he arranged his 
affairs, and arrived at Chefoo at the close of De- 
cember, 1860. 

The new treaty between England and China opened 
up the northern provinces to direct mission work, 
and Mr. John, soon after arriving at Chefoo, writes : 
" Whilst our hearts overflow with joy at the extensive 
field so suddenly and marvellously opened up, we are 
ready to despond at the inadequacy of the means. 
What is one station and two missionaries for the whole 
Shang-tung province, with its twenty-nine millions of 
human souls ; or for the twenty-eight millions of 
Chih-li ; or the teeming millions that line the banks 
of the mighty Yang-tsi ? Nothing, absolutely nothing ! 
Will the Church, unfaithful to her Head, and false to 
herself, as the depository of the blessings of light and 
life for the world, look on with indifference ? " 

The two missionaries were not appalled. With God 



THE TAIPING REBELLION. 49 

on their side they felt assured of success ; and being 
active and enterprising men, they soon visited nearly 
all the towns and villages in the neighbourhood of 
Chefoo. 

The scenery in this province is exquisitely beau- 
tiful. The mountain of Tai Shan is one of the highest 
in China, and is also celebrated for the magnifi- 
cent temples which cover its sides and base. In the 
spring the roads to it are covered with pilgrims 
desirous of paying their vows and offering prayers. 
The Shang-tung province is also famous owing to its 
containing the birth-places of Confucius and Mencius. 
The tomb of the former, who died b.c. 479 at Kiuh-feu, 
is a majestic monument embosomed in a forest 
of oaks. 

Mr. John was much pleased with the people, who 
are more manly than those of the south. Idolatry 
had not so firm a, hold upon them, and many seemed 
to be more susceptible of religious impressions, hav- 
ing a distinct notion of a Supreme Spiritual Being. 
Their disposition to clannishness, which is a marked 
social feature, was also thought would be helpful to 
the progress of the Gospel. Many villages, with from 
500 to 5,000 people, were found to be composed en- 
tirely of one or two families, and to influence one 
person meant to influence all ; whilst the conversion 
of one of the principal men would be followed by 
the respectful attention of the whole clan to the 
truth. 

On January 4th, the missionaries visited the district 
city of Fuh Shan, and called upon the Mandarin to 
inquire whether he had any objection to their renting 
a house. He received them kindly, and said that as 
both nations were now one family, there could be no 
objection on his part. A house was rented accord- 
ingly, and the Gospel preached there daily. 

January the 24th saw the missionaries on ponies 
journeying towards the cities of Tung Cheu-fu and 

E 



50 GRIFFITH JOHN 

Hwang-hien. Their books and luggage followed 
upon mules. They found that the people of this 
region slept upon nikangs ; these are square or oblong 
mounds of earth, heated at night by a flue which runs 
through them. The fire often goes out before morn- 
ing ; and then, instead of giving, they absorb heat. 
The people of South China avoid them on that account. 
The missionaries, however, were fortunate enough to 
find wooden bedsteads. 

The fare procurable in travelling was very humble, 
but they had ample compensation for their privations 
in the attention paid to their preaching. Several 
hearers made themselves known as former listeners to 
the doctrine at Shanghai. 

Mr. Edkins being unwell, their progress was slow. 
Immediately they arrived at Tung Cheu they were 
led to a comfortable inn, where messengers from each 
of the Mandarin officers waited upon them to inquire 
into their history. 

" Your honourable names?" 

" Your honourable country?" 

" Whence are you from?" 

" Whither are you going?" 

"What public office do you fill?" 

These and many similar questions were put by each 
messenger. 

Mr. John spent Sunday in preaching and dis- 
tributing books along the streets. Besides attentive 
audiences, he was followed by large crowds influenced 
by motives of curiosity; some, however, had a 
serious intention to learn what the new doctrine really 
was. 

On the following day he rode over to Hwang-hien 
alone, preached and distributed books for an hour- 
and-a-half. The books were eagerly sought after, but 
some cautious ones refused to accept them because it 
was the first time books had been given away there, and 
they doubted the propriety or safety of doing so. This 



THE TAIPING REBELLION. 51 

city, though large, is inferior to Tung Cheu in rank, 
population, or beauty of situation. 

The following day they left Tung-cheu, with its 
150,000 people and glorious scenery. Their regrets 
at being able to devote so little time to such a 
fine position for mission work, were soon after 
removed by the settlement there of Mr. Hartwel, a 
missionary of the American Baptist Society. The 
insurgents were at this time making rapid strides in 
Shantung, and had approached within thirty miles of 
the provincial capital. The Tartar prince, Sung "Wang, 
was twice defeated by them. This weakness of the 
Tartar Mandarins was fortunate for the mission work, 
as these Manchu potentates hated Christianity, and 
had set their faces like iron against it. Mr. John 
wrote then, what soon proved to be true words, " The 
repeated defeats and complete discomfiture of the 
Tartar hosts in the north have thoroughly undermined 
the Manchu power. It must fall. There is no power 
in China to uphold it. The Kwangsi insurrection 
must triumph if foreign powers do not interfere. The 
Manchus might as well attempt to blow the sun out 
of the heavens, as to quench this flame which their 
folly and tyranny have kindled." 

This portion of Mr. John's missionary labours was 
soon to close, to enable him to enter upon that sphere 
of usefulness with which his name is now indissolubly 
associated. 

China was in a most interesting and exciting crisis, 
and he recognised it. Writing to the Society, he said, 
" What the fathers of the London Missionary Society 
desired to see, but did not see, and what Morrison, 
Milne, Medhurst, and others laboured diligently, 
prayerfully, and with tears to obtain, but did not 
obtain, we now see and possess. The whole Imperialist 
territory is now opened by the recent treaty, and that 
of the insurgents by the edict which I had the honour 
and privilege to procure through the Kan Wang. . . . 



52 



GRIFFITH JOHN. 



Shall the four hundred millions of China remain in 
their state of darkness and death because of the 
worldliness and deadness of the people of God ? Shall 
not the cry which now goes, forth from this land 
penetrate our universities, colleges, and churches, and 
elicit a response in many a heart devoted to Christ, 
worthy of the urgency and solemnity of the occasion?" 





CHAPTER IV. 

Founding of the Hankow Mission. 



" Come back, thou holy love, so rudely banished. 
When evil came, and hate, and fear, and wrong ; 
Return, thou joyous light, so quickly vanished ; 

Revive, thou life that death hath quenched so long ! 

" Re-fix, re-knit, the chain so harshly broken, 

That bound this lower orb to yon bright heaven ; 
Hang out on high the ever golden token, 

That tells of earth renewed and man forgiven. 

" Withdraw the veil that has for ages hidden 

That upper kingdom from this nether sphere ; 
Renew the fellowship so long forbidden ; 

God, Thyself take up Thy dwelling here." 

Dr. Bonar. 
%h 

One of the greatest aids to mission work in China, 
is the network of rivers and canals, which make 
so many parts of that vast empire easy of access. 
Foremost among these is the river Yang-tsi. It is 
known in China by the terms, the Son of the Ocean, 
the " Great River," the " Girdle of China," etc. The 
largest steamers can ascend it during four or five 
months of the year for more than 1,000 miles, whilst 
Hankow, which is 780 miles up, is accessible to ocean 
steamers at all times of the year. The river presented 



54 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

a remarkable appearance when Mr. John first ascended 
it. From Nanking upwards, it had overflowed its 
banks ; and where, in ordinary times it is confined to 
a channel of a mile, it then spread out from ten to 
fifteen miles. At some places it was completely lost 
in the embraces of the horizon, and seemed like an 
inland sea. In other places tops of trees could be 
seen, and roofs of houses with people clinging to them. 
Sometimes the god of the land and grain was found 
seated on a high mound, having been taken from his 
watery shrine by some worshipper, who believed in his 
power to save and bless others though unable to help 
himself. 

At eleven o'clock on the night of the 21st of June, 
1861, Mr. John and Mr. Wilson arrived at Hankow. 
It was a beautiful moonlight night. All along the 
walls of the Wuchang, and on the topi of the Han 
Yang hill, hundreds of lanterns were hung. These 
were lighted every night by a coolie, and answered the 
same purpose as the wooden " Quaker guns" did in 
the American civil war, viz. : frighten the rebels, as 
there were no soldiers to defend either the walls or 
the hills. 

Mr. John had heard of, read about, and many a 
time longed to visit this great emporium of China. 

The two cities of Wuchang and Han Yang, and the 
town of Hankow, occupy the points formed by the 
junction of the river Yang-tsi with its tributary the 
Han. The morning after they arrived, the mission- 
aries ascended the Han Yang hill, and had a glorious 
view. The Yang-tsi had overflowed its banks to a 
larger extent than for many years previously, and 
completely surrounded Hankow, which occupies a flat 
site. Twelve years previously there had been a great 
flood, and the water rose twelve feet higher than in 
1861. Upon that occasion, most of the houses were 
partly under water, the people living in the upper 
storeys, and carrying on business by boats. This en- 




CHINESE LANTERN SHOP. 



56 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

tailed a serious loss to the inhabitants, but it was as 
nothing in comparison with the destruction wrought 
by the rebels. They had visited it four times. On 
the first three occasions, the people were not molested, 
and property was respected ; but on the last visit the 
people, compelled by the mandarins, offered resistance. 
The consequence was fearful, and the whole place was 
converted into a burning heap. Such, however, was 
its inherent vitality, that Mr. John thought it pre- 
sented the appearance of a most flourishing mart, and 
would regain its pristine glory within a year if peace 
were restored. The people, however, lamented and 
sighed whenever a comparison was instituted between 
its past and present condition. Its population had 
been about one million and a half. Its shops, store- 
houses, and temples, were proverbial for their grandeur 
and beauty. People from eighteen provinces met 
here to exchange the varied products of the great 
empire. The people told Mr. John that the principal 
street which ran beside the banks of the rivers Han 
and Yang-tsi, was in former days twelve miles in 
length. He says, " Well have the Chinese applied the 
terms ' Centre of the Empire ' and ' the Heart of the 
Empire' to Hankow. Give us peace: and from a 
missionary point of view, it rises up before my vision 
in magnificent grandeur. From this point a mis- 
sionary can penetrate the whole empire with ease." 

Mr. John, with his characteristic promptitude, com- 
menced preaching on the first day ; and from that 
time to the present, Hankow has had the Gospel 
daily proclaimed by an ever-increasing number of 
missionaries. The people were found to be remarkably 
lively, much more so than any he had previously seen, 
and they not only formed attentive audiences, but 
eagerly and thankfully read the books offered to them. 

Mr. John and his companion soon jwospected the 
place, and saw that it offered unparalleled oppor- 
tunities for a mission centre, in spite of the dis- 



FOUNDING OF THE HANKOW MISSION. 57 

couraging state of affairs caused by civil war. The 
country from Chun-Kiang to Hankow had for ten 
years been a vast battle-field or camp. Cities had 
been lost and won again and again. The river had 
been almost blocked up, trade suspended, and flour- 
ishing cities reduced to a state of utter wretchedness. 

But missionary work engrossed their attention ; a 
house was secured, and preaching continued. The 
insurgents had announced some Christian truths, and 
the names of God and Jesus were recognised by some 
of the people, who, in two or three cases, objected to 
them as being identical with the doctrine of the 
" Monsters," as the rebels were termed. 

On the 6th of August, Mr. John left in a native 
boat for Shanghai, to remove his family to Hankow. 
On the way down a terrible squall was encountered, 
which threatened immediate destruction to the crazy 
craft. The crew, with the exception of one man, lost 
all presence of mind, and having given up all as lost, 
sat down trembling like so many aspen leaves. The 
storm, however, soon passed away. Mr. John re- 
turned in safety with his family on the 12th of 
September, and speedily resumed his work with great 
energy. 

As they had not a regular chapel, preaching was 
conducted for several hours daily in a large hall in 
Mr. John's house. He was aided by his two native 
assistants. The ever-changing audience was composed 
of people from eighteen different provinces, whom 
business had called to Hankow, besides numbers of 
the natives of that place. Many were very anxious 
in inquiring about the religion of Jesus. The 
questions asked indicated that they were far more 
inquisitive than any people he had hitherto met. 
Several came again for books and portions of 
Scripture, and one man surprised Mr. John by the 
knowledge he had acquired, and the correctness and 
fluency with which he talked about God the Father, 



58 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

atonement by the death of Jesus, Paul the Apostle, 
and such subjects. 

Mr. John, with that conciliatory method which he 
has always adopted towards those in authority, pre- 
sented the Tau-tai (governor of the city) with a copy 
of the New Testament and some scientific works. His 
Excellency called upon Mr. John soon after, and 
caused some astonishment by exhibiting much more 
interest in the New Testament than in the other 
books. 

In August, 1861, Hien-fung, the Emperor of China, 
died. He had long been under the power of a number 
of officials influenced by reactionary principles, who 
wished to have no intercourse with foreigners and to 
sweep all such out of the Flowery Land. 

The deceased monarch was only twenty-six years 
of age when he died, but he had allowed unworthy 
favourites to lead him into sensual indulgences. 
Chief among these favourites was the avaricious and 
cruel Su-Shun, who with the princes of I and Ching, 
members of the extreme anti-foreign party, formed 
a council of Eegency to take care of the new boy- 
emperor, then eight years old. 

These officials, however, did not possess the sympa- 
thy of any party, and had long been discredited in the 
eyes of the people by their actions. When, therefore, 
Prince Kung, brother of the deceased Emperor, made 
his coup cVetat on November the 3rd, 1861, he not 
only had the Empress-mother, but the officers and 
organs of the Government, as well as the people, on 
his side. The members of the Council of Eegency 
were apprehended, and kept as prisoners in their own 
houses; their effects and wealth were sequestrated, 
and their power was assumed by Prince Kung and the 
Empress-mother. 

According to Chinese ideas Su-Shun was respon- 
sible for the misgovernment of the late Emperor. He 
was accordingly separated from his troops and guards, 




SU-SHUN, REGENT OF CHINA. 



60 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

while following the Emperor's coffin into the palace 
at Peking, and placed in confinement. After the coup 
d'etat he was degraded to the rank of a private 
soldier, and brought in a common cart to the Cabbage 
Market, Peking, dressed in an ordinary sheepskin. 
Dr. Lockart, who was the only European eye-witness 
of what followed, states that he alighted, looking very 
savage and enraged. Pausing, he was surrounded by 
a number of high officials, and in a few moments he 
was obliged to kneel. The officers bowed towards 
him, and with one blow the executioner struck off 
his head. 

This revolution had a most important bearing on 
the Empire of China. Its policy towards Foreign 
Powers was reversed ; Prince Kung being shrewd 
enough to see that it was impossible for China success- 
fully to resist them, and yet to prosper. 

The influence of this change in the government was 
speedily felt all over the Empire, and aided by the 
defeats which China had received from the Western 
Powers, and the troubles occasioned by the Taipings 
and other rebels, it humbled the national pride and 
made the people more docile and susceptible of 
impressions from without. The presence of foreigners 
at Hankow gave a greater feeling of security to the 
people, and this tended to promote their favourable 
disposition. The magistrates were very friendly dis- 
posed towards Mr. John. The district magistrate 
visited him twice, and wrote some kind letters ; while 
the Lieutenant Governor sent him a proclamation to be 
posted on his door, commanding the soldiers and people 
not to injure or molest foreigners under the severest 
penalty. Mr. John availed himself of this friendliness 
to speak of Christ in the highest circle of society at 
Hankow. Being invited to breakfast by a mandarin 
friend, a number of guests were asked to meet him, 
among whom was a Hu-nan military mandarin. This 
gentleman boasted of the glory and martial courage 



FOUNDING OF THE HANKOW MISSION, 61 

of the Hu-nan men, and said there was no danger 
of their ever believing in Jesus or of His religion 
taking root there. 

" Slowly, my friend," said Mr. John, " the Hu-nan 
people know not His person and character, and there- 
fore cannot believe in Him just now ; but ere long 
they will be better acquainted with Him, and who 
knows but that many will turn to Him." 

" Never," said the mandarin, "they have Confucius, 
and Jesus cannot be compared with him." 

"He is infinitely superior: the one is from the 
earth, and the other from heaven. We have sages in 
abundance in the Western world, but we never think of 
instituting a comparison between them and Christ." 

"But," said the mandarin, "all sages are heaven 
(God) sent." 

" Christ," replied Mr. John, " is not only God sent, 
but God incarnate — God manifested in the flesh." 

This doctrine offended the pride of the mandarin, 
as it does that of every age and country. It, how- 
ever, led to some further conversation, to the great 
delight of the missionary. 

Early in the year 1862, Mr. John reported steady 
progress, evolved by the blessing of God from careful 
and unremitting toil. Until then he had been all 
alone at Hankow. Soon after the new year he was 
joined by two native assistants, both natives of 
Nanking. Several earnest inquirers had appeared; 
but being part of the large floating population of 
Hankow, they soon left the place. Every afternoon 
the hall was filled with people, for four or five hours, 
to whom Mr. John and his two native assistants 
preached. He often questioned the audience, and 
was several times struck with the extent and correct- 
ness of their information. 

One day he asked his hearers who God was. 

A man boldly and promptly replied, "God is the 
Creator of heaven, earth, and all things." 



62 GKIFFITH JOHN. 

"Is God a Spirit?" 

"Yes." 

" How many Gods are there ? " 

"One." 

" But the Chinese worship many gods ; what have 
you to say to that? " 

"They are all false, the creations of man's imag- 
ination, or dead men ' promoted to the rank of gods 
by men ! ' " 

" Are apotheosized men really gods ? " 

" Certainly not; they have the name, but not the 
reality." 

"What of ' Yu-'hwang,' the god that is so univer- 
sally and highly honoured by the nation ? " 

" He also is a made god, and not a true God." 

"Who is Jesus Christ?" 

" The Son of God." 

"Is He God?" 

"Yes." 

"Why did He come into the world?" 

" He came to save men." 

" How does He save men ? " 

" He died to redeem them." 

"Where are you from?" 

"From Hwang-Chew." (A city about fifty miles 
from Hankow.) 

" Where did you hear these things ? " 

"Here." 

"How often have you heard the Gospel preached?" 

" I heard it two or three times last year, and took 
some of your books with me home. I have come 
here to-day to hear you again and to beg for more 
books." 

This is only a specimen of many of the hearers, and 
exhibits the advantages of the Protestant method of 
teaching over the Eoman Catholic form, which has 
been carried on in China for more than five hundred 
years. The foreign priest does not preach or come 



FOUNDING OF THE HANKOW MISSION. 63 

in contact with any save inquirers, brought to him 
by his native agents. Even the native agents do not 
preach publicly, but go about quietly among their 
immediate acquaintances. Only occasionally do they 
give books to their converts. 

The Protestant method is that of publishing loudly 
to all who wish to listen, and of scattering books and 
tracts as widely as possible. Its advantage is palpable, 
as the Catholic priest may remain years in a place 
without his presence being known to many beyond 
his converts, whereas the Protestant missionary is 
known to thousands on his arrival as the teacher of 
a new doctrine. Hundreds hear daily, and soon know 
the principal facts. These become topics of conver- 
sation and discussion in the family, the tea-shop, and 
other public places. To talk, to question, and to 
doubt are all essential steps to a change of mind. 
Another advantage of Protestant teaching is that 
a missionary who is stationary in a city, may even 
influence distant cities and provinces, by means of the 
traders and visitors whom he addresses. In March, 
1862, an old man came to hear Mr. John, who asked 
whether he had heard the Gospel before. He replied 
that he had heard it many years ago from Dr. 
Medhurst and Mr. Muirhead at Shanghai. The old 
man seemed quite convinced of the folly of idolatry. 

At this time many who had heard about the Gospel 
were wishful to enter the Church from worldly motives. 
Among others a smart country boy came to Mr. John 
with a letter. It stated that the boy wished to be 
instructed in the Christian religion with the view of 
entering the Church. Mr. John advised him to 
attend the daily preaching. Several days after he 
presented another note, and the native assistant 
learned from conversation that some of the country 
people had got the impression that all who became 
Christians got a small quantity of rice given to them 
daily, and this boy was sent to make the experiment, 



64 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

others being ready to follow should he prove success- 
ful. No sooner was he undeceived than he disappeared. 
Mr. John was often discouraged, after an earnest 
exposition of the Gospel, by a Chinaman stolidly 
asking: "What advantage is there connected with 
believing in Jesus ? Will it bring us any rice ? How 
many cash does a man receive on entering the 
Church ? " Such is a Chinaman ! 

At this time Mr. John wrote, " Very few conver- 
sions, genuine turnings to God, do we witness in 
China. It is a hard field. Notwithstanding the 
labour bestowed, it has yielded but little fruit. Some- 
times I feel very much discouraged, and am ready to 
faint. Satan sometimes talks to me the most hellish logic; 
but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, I 
have been able to persevere hitherto, and shall by 
His help persevere unto the end. Pray for me." 

On Sunday, the 16th of March, 1862, exactly one 
month after the above was penned, the first convert 
in connection with the Protestant Mission at Hankow 
was baptized, and on the 8th of June six others — four 
men and two women — followed. The greatest depth 
of religious feeling shown was by one who had been a 
devotee of the sect of Kwan-yin. This man seemed 
as though he had felt a spiritual want ; but in spite of 
the comparatively high aims of his sect its discipline 
had failed in his moral renovation, and he had not 
been able to meet with anything to satisfy his craving 
until the light of the Gospel shone into his mind. 

At the close of twelve months' labour the infant 
Church at Hankow numbered twelve members. After 
admission they were carefully disciplined and trained 
to self-government. A small collection of hymns was 
prepared by Mr. John, in such a style as to be intelli- 
gent to all, without violently offending the taste of 
those refined in letters. He also prepared a tract 
with a view to answering the questions usually put 
by his hearers. 



FOUNDING OF THE HANKOW MISSION. 65 

On the 12th of August, 1863, Mr. John had to mourn 
the death by dysentery of his colleague, the Rev. E. 
Wilson, B.A., after a few days' illness. He was a very 
persevering man, humble-minded, and sure in judg- 
ment. Mr. John felt the loss keenly, as in addition 
to his high character, Mr. Wilson would have been an 
able Chinese scholar and a very efficient missionary. 
His four years' missionary course was just long 
enough to allow his fellow-workers to learn his value 
and anticipate a successful career. They saw instead 
a bright and happy close to his earthly life. 

Mr. John asked his dying colleague for his parting- 
blessing. 

He answered : " My blessing is of poor value ; how- 
ever, may God bless you — in your own soul, in your 
health, and in your family — in each member of it. 
And may He bless you in your work ; in the Native 
Church ; and oh ! may you have many, many souls, 
as the crown of your rejoicing in that clay." 

The recipient of that blessing has had its posses- 
sion confirmed to him by many signs from the Holy 
Spirit. 

Soon after his arrival at Hankow, Mr. John's atten- 
tion was directed to the neighbouring city of Wuchang, 
as a most desirable place for mission work. It is the 
provincial capital of Hu-peh, and the seat of the 
Viceroy of the two provinces of Hu-peh and Hu-nan. 
Lying on the right bank of the Yang-tsi, opposite the 
departmental city of Han-yang and near to Hankow, 
its walls are about ten miles in circumference, and 
its population is about four hundred thousand. In 
addition to occupying a beautiful position, it is poli- 
tically one of the most important cities in the 
Empire. 

Mr. John saw that here lay the key to the two 
provinces ; and that if Wuchang could be opened to 
the Protestant missionary, the provinces also would 
be accessible. 



66 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

Never did a strategist lay bolder plans or more 
steadfastly pursue them ; never was human character 
and institutions studied to better purpose, or words 
and actions used by diplomatist with more subtle 
intelligence. One of the native evangelists at Hankow 
was sent over to rent a house; but found that 
the people, though willing to let their houses, 
were afraid to do so without the permission of the 
mandarins. 

As the authorities had to be consulted, Mr. John 
resolved to save much time and labour by going at 
once to the fountain-head, and pay a visit to the 
Viceroy. He paved the way by a present of religious 
and scientific books. 

Kwan, the Viceroy, was acquainted with Mr. John's 
position, and also had the character of being generous 
in spirit and friendly disposed towards foreigners. 
After waiting two hours in the ante-room, Mr. John 
was admitted to the Mandarin, who came to meet 
him, and insisted upon his taking the seat of honour, 
whilst he himself sat below. 

In thanking Mr. John for the books, the Viceroy 
put some questions in reference to the authorship 
and meaning of the New Testament. He also asked 
the missionary's opinion on the three religions of 
China, and begged to be informed in what Chris- 
tianity differs from them. 

Mr. John gladly availed himself of this opportunity. 
Of course the Mandarin was far too polite to contra- 
dict or even to appear to dissent, that would have 
been a fearful breach of etiquette. Though probably 
he did not believe a word of the missionary's state- 
ment, he seemed to devour all greedily. To the pro- 
posal that Mr. John should enter Wuchang, he had 
one or two slight objections on the score of the happi- 
ness and safety of the missionary. The people were 
ignorant and stupid ; and while he would be happy to 
have missionaries there, and be on friendly terms 



FOUNDING OF THE HANKOW MISSION. 67 

with them, he could not bear the thought of their 
exposing themselves to insults and danger. 

Mr. John replied that " the missionary was prepared 
to endure much if necessary; but that in a city in 
which the Viceroy resided, and over which he exercised 
supreme control, such a necessity ought never to 
arise." 

" Well," rejoined his Excellency," if these objections 
are not important in your judgment, you have my 
permission. Both nations are now one, and there is 
nothing impracticable." 

" Good, very good," replied Mr. John ; " your senti- 
ments are true and noble ; and now that both nations 
are one, and nothing impracticable, perhaps you would 
have no objection to issue a proclamation to tell the 
people that they may let their houses, or if you prefer 
it, to give me a private letter which I might show 
those whom it might concern." 

In the blandest manner the Viceroy said that it was 
not necessary to do either the one or the other, as he 
would inform the district magistrate of the fact, and 
request him to do all that might be necessary to 
ensure success. 

A quiet repast of soup and cakes followed the con- 
versation, and Mr. John departed. 

He knew the verbal promise would be of little 
immediate use ; but he was glad to have it, as it would 
make it difficult for the local authorities to expel him, 
if he ever were able to get into the city. 

Thinking it worth while to test his Excellency's 
promise, a native evangelist was sent over the river 
to make another trial. He soon found that the 
mandarins had got the start of him. In every case 
one of the first questions put to him was, " Yes, we 
have a house to let ; but pray for whom do you want 
it ? Is it for a foreigner ? " It was of no use to tell 
them that the foreign pastor had seen the Viceroy, 
and obtained his permission. " They did not believe 



68 



GRIFFITH JOHN. 



in mere ' mouth promise.' It might do for the 
foreigner. Let the pastor get a proclamation posted 
on the walls, and they would be satisfied." 

Doubtless the first thing Kwan did, after the inter- 
view with Mr. John, was to issue private instructions 
to the citizens that land must neither be let nor sold 
to a foreigner in the city of Wuchang. 

Mr. John then called on the district magistrate, who 




INTERIOR OF A YAMEN OR MAGISTRATES OFFICE. 

was engaged with the military examination, so he 
addressed a letter to him saying that he had seen the 
Viceroy, who had given him permission to reside in 
the city, and had also promised to inform the magis- 
trate and ask for the necessary aid. Mr. John would 
be greatly obliged by the magistrate informing the 
people, as they were afraid to let or sell land without 
his permission. 



FOUNDING OF THE HANKOW MISSION. 69 

A beautiful, polite, yet absurd note, such as only a 
Chinese official could write, came in reply, acknow- 
ledging Mr. John's rights to reside in the city, and 
anything within his power he would willingly do. 
His Excellency having said " Yes," it was not for him 
to say " No "; but from time immemorial magistrates 
have never interfered with the private property of the 
people, and therefore he could do nothing in the 
matter. He would advise Mr. John to go among the 
people and try to buy or rent, and, if successful, his 
friendship and help might be calculated upon in time 
of need. 

This reply, although possessing a value for future 
use, was worse than worthless at that time. 

Mr. John allowed some weeks to pass by, although 
fully determined to persevere. About December, 1863, 
he felt it was time to renew the attempt. The effort 
to buy or rent in his own name had failed. Moreover, 
it seemed doubtful whether a foreigner could right- 
fully own property except at the Treaty ports. It 
struck him that the best thing was to instruct the 
principal evangelist to buy in his name for the native 
Church, feeling certain that if the religious toleration 
clause meant anything he had a right as a Christian 
to do so. The plan was laid before the evangelist as 
soon as matured, and he took it up immediately. 
One of the Church- deacons, a native of Wuchang, 
promised his help. They were charged to adhere 
strictly to the truth, and by no means deny, if asked, 
that it was intended to build a chapel upon the land. 

In a few days the land was bought. No time was 
lost in getting the deeds registered at the Mandarin's 
office, and in obtaining the official signature. 

With these documents in his possession, Mr. John 
could afford to smile at the storm which mandarin 
rage might create, and he exultingly made the follow- 
ing entry in his Journal on the day upon which the 
land was bought : 



70 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

" January the 20th, 1864. — A piece of ground has 
been bought to-day in Wuchang for the Native Church. 
The site is in one of the principal streets, and the 
ground is about 60 feet wide by 160 long. On this I 
hope to be able to put up suitable buildings after the 
festivities of the Chinese New Year are over. I anti- 
cipate difficulties yet ; but, with God's blessing, the 
attempt will be successful." 

The former owner promised to have the land cleared, 
and' to hand it over by the end of March. Before 
that, however, the mandarins found out what was 
going on. The landholder was summoned before the 
departmental magistrate, and charged with the crime 
of having sold his land to a foreigner. He denied 
the charge, and said what was strictly true, that he 
did not know that a foreigner had anything to do 
with it. 

"Well," said the Mandarin, "if you do not know 
to whom you were selling the ground, I know for 
what purpose it was bought. You go at once and 
see Shen-tsi-sin — Mr. John's assistant — and tell him 
that if he intends the ground for his own private 
use he may keep it, but that if he intends it for 
religious purposes he had better have nothing more 
to do with it, as he values his life." This message 
was delivered on the 1st of April, and on the following 
day Mr. John wrote a letter to the magistrate, to the 
following effect : — 

"I am an Englishman, and a missionary of the 
religion of Jesus. According to the treaty of Tientsin, 
all who preach and teach Christianity are entitled to 
the protection and kind consideration of the magis- 
trates. Natives also, who profess or teach Christianity, 
are entitled to the same privileges. Moreover, a 
British subject is entitled to all the rights, privileges, 
and favours which may be conferred on the subjects 
of any other government. Now, if the natives of 
this place have a right to profess and propagate the 



FOUNDING OF THE HANKOW MISSION. 71 

Christian religion, they have surely the right to 
procure the necessary buildings for that purpose ; 
and if British subjects have a right to all the 
privileges enjoyed by the subjects of other govern- 
ments, then I, as a missionary of the religion of 
Jesus, have the right to be in Wuchang, where 
priests of the Eoman Catholic religion are. Besides 
all this, on my arrival here I called on the Viceroy 
to inform him of my office and the nature of my 
work, and to ask his permission to carry on my work 
in Wuchang. 

"His Excellency received me very politely, and, in 
the presence of the Kev. J. Cox (Wesley an missionary) 
and of several Chinese officials, he openly told me 
that he gave me his permission, adding the remark 
that, the two nations being one, there was nothing 
impracticable. You cannot suppose that so great a 
man as his Excellency would act without thought, 
talk empty sounds, or was capable of eating his words. 
Again, in reply to my letter, the district magistrate 
acknowledges the fact that the Viceroy had given his 
permission, and requests me to go among the people 
myself to buy or rent ; and he assures me that I may 
calculate on his willingness to render me every help 
within the limits of his power. This letter is now in 
my possession, and may be produced whenever needed. 

" Thus having the right by treaty to carry on my 
work in Wuchang, and having the permission of the 
highest authority in these two provinces to do so, 
and having been advised by the district magistrate 
to try and rent or purchase without his aid, I requested 
our principal native assistant to go and buy a piece 
of land. The land was soon bought and paid for, 
and the title-deeds were officially registered and 
sealed. I enclose a copy of the old deed, so that you 
may see that the transaction was in every respect 
regular and valid. Having thus done everything in 
strict conformity with the great principles of justice 



72 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

and mutual regard, I was surprised to learn yester- 
day that the former owner of the ground would not 
hand it over, because the magistrates declare that 
the missionary has no right to reside and carry on 
his work in the city of "Wuchang. Can this be true ? 
Has not the landlord mistaken his Excellency's 
meaning ? Have the goodness to inquire into the 
matter, and please command the parties concerned to 
hand over the ground without delay." 

To this letter Mr. John received a very polite note, 
promising to comply with his request and inform him 
of the result in a few days. 

It, however, produced quite a sensation among the 
mandarins, who were all summoned to the Viceroy's 
residence. The great question under discussion was, 
"What can be done to keep the barbarian out?" 
The reasoning ran along the following lines : "It 
won't do to tell him he has no right to be here ; for, 
as he says, the Eoman Catholic priests are here. It 
is of no use objecting on the ground that he did not 
speak to us first, because he did speak to his 
Excellency ; and though the promise meant nothing, 
still it would t never do for us to say so. And then 
there is the letter of the district magistrate which is 
now in his possession. Moreover, there are the deeds 
duly and officially registered and sealed. What can 
be done?" 

The acting Tau-tai of Hankow advised that they 
should not interfere in the matter, but allow Mr. 
John to take possession of the ground, as resistance 
would avail them nought in a case like this. His 
counsel was rejected. Another then suggested that 
Mr. John had better be told that this piece of ground 
was public property ; that it did not belong to the 
person who had clandestinely sold it ; that the deeds, 
therefore, must be returned to them and the money 
paid back to Mr. John, who must look out for another 
piece. They were all greatly charmed with this 



FOUNDING OF THE HANKOW MISSION. 73 

bright idea, and doubtless thought that Wuchang 
might yet be saved from what appeared to them to 
be a great calamity. Little did they suspect that 
this apparently happy thought would lead to their 
more complete and public defeat. Certainly in this 
case a lie wrought against its framers. Better far 
would it have been for them to take time and study 
the character of the astute missionary with some- 
thing like the closeness and intelligence which he 
had displayed in interpreting theirs. 

Within three days the letter promised by the 
magistrate was received by Mr. John. It conveyed 
in substance the statement just mentioned as agreed 
upon by the mandarins. 

Mr. John replied that the land must have been the 
private property of the man who sold it, the old deeds 
proving this beyond the possibility of a doubt. He 
assured them they w T ould never get back the deeds 
on such a plea, and therefore begged them to get the 
land transferred without delay. 

After this the matter became a subject of public 
interest, and was taken up by the literati, gentry, 
and people generally, who petitioned the magistrates 
not to allow the missionary to build in their famous 
city. Frequent deputations of two or three hundred 
of them would go in a body, besiege the Mandarin's 
office, and entreat his honour not to permit the 
barbarian to enter the city with his pernicious 
doctrine, to poison the minds of the people and 
subvert their customs. Placards were posted on the 
city walls reprobating Mr. John's attempt to build in 
the city of Wuchang, calling upon the people to 
resist it with all their might, threatening any natives 
who might assist with vengeance, and swearing that 
they would pull the buildings down as soon as they 
were up. These proceedings were probably instigated 
by the mandarins. 

During this wild ferment Mr. John paid the magis- 



74 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

trate two or three visits, and several letters passed 
between them. Seeing it was hopeless to get the 
missionary entirely to withdraw his claims, the magis- 
trate shifted his ground, and endeavoured to obtain a 
compromise. In the one proposed it was thought that 
Chinese cunning and finesse would reap the larger 
advantage. The magistrate offered to get Mr. John 
another piece of land if he would only give up this 
one. 

Seeing that the mandarins were wishful to come to 
a speedy settlement, and were only anxious to do so 
without appearing ridiculous by letting him have the 
piece which they had declared to be public property, 
and therefore unlawfully sold, Mr. John expressed his 
willingness to exchange the original piece for another 
equally convenient, good, and cheap. 

Now the mandarins thought they really had the 
missionary in their power, and tried to banish him to 
the top of one of the hills, and, failing that, to bury 
him in the depths of one of the back lanes. After 
trying this on for a while they found it vain, and then 
offered such a piece as Mr. John felt he could accept. 
Here was a triumph for the missionary, yet it was 
only the first instalment of his success. 

The magistrate had to show Mr. John the ground 
and superintend the measuring thereof. To him it 
must have been a humiliating task ; but having been 
commanded to do so by his superiors, there was no 
alternative. 

When that was done he said, "Well, what do you 
think of this piece of ground ? " to which Mr. John 
replied, " I can make it do for the time being, though 
I don't like it so well as the other piece. If, however, 
you will let me have it at my own price, I will 
take it." 

The magistrate rejoined : " We are tired of this 
affair, and wish to have it settled without delay. 
Money is not of much consideration. If you say that 



FOUNDING OF THE HANKOW MISSION. 75 

you will take this piece and return the deeds of the 
original one, we shall be quite satisfied, and eternal 
peace will be established between us. What do you 
offer?" Mr. John mentioned his price, but said he 
would much prefer the other piece at the larger sum 
which he had paid. 

After two or three days writing about the price, the 
land was sold to Mr. John for very little more than 
he had offered. This time the deeds were drawn out 
by the departmental and district magistrates, and 
were sent to Mr. John on the 16th of July, 1864 ; who 
immediately transferred them to the London Mis- 
sionary Society, and as such registered them at the 
British Consulate, Hankow. The crowning triumph 
was the issuing of a proclamation by the magistrates, 
as soon as the matter was settled, to inform the people 
that the land had been bought by Mr. John, and that 
he had a right according to treaty to build and carry 
on his mission work there. 

Thus was the wrath and the cunning of man made 
to praise and serve the purposes of God. The object 
of His servant was to enter and work in Wuchang. 
This was fully attained. That the main question was 
one of right of entry, and not simply the possession 
of land, is proved by the report of the mandarin's 
discussion as supplied by one of them who was pre- 
sent. The fierce and long contest gave the Mission 
such advertisement as nothing else could possibly 
have done ; while the lie manufactured to help their 
cause only proved a source of weakness, and made it 
needful for them to issue that most valuable procla- 
mation authorising the erection of a place of worship 
" for the religion of Jesus." As Wuchang is the pro- 
vincial seat of government, this virtually announced 
to all the humiliation of the mandarins, drew the atten- 
tion of officials and people in all the neighbouring 
cities to the missionary's success, and proclaimed the 
opening of both provinces for systematic mission work. 



76 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

Such was the end of nearly four months' conflict 
with mandarins — men almost incapable of speaking 
the truth or acting honestly. The native deacon and 
the evangelist had many an anxious hour, often seek- 
ing Mr. John at midnight for consolation. 

When frightened by adverse reports from Wuchang 
it taxed Mr. John much to keep their spirits up. 
Afterwards the mandarins, literati, and gentry were 
as quiet and urbane as possible. It ought also to be 
mentioned that Her Majesty's Consul helped Mr. John 
to the utmost extent of his power, and also earned 
his grateful acknowledgments for his sympathy at this 
trying time. 

The buildings which Mr. John erected consisted of 
a commodious chapel, two rooms for the foreign mis- 
sionary, a house for the native evangelist, and two 
large school-rooms ; while half of the ground was left 
for a hospital or dispensary. 

The land and buildings cost about £500, which 
sum was almost entirely subscribed by the " Hankow 
Community" of Europeans. Mr. John had only to 
mention his wish and the money was readily con- 
tributed. 

The native evangelist, Pau-seang-sang, was put in 
charge. He was a highly respectable merchant, and, 
being in comfortable circumstances, had retired from 
business and devoted his time and energy to the work 
of the mission, to which he rendered noble service. 

At the request of the Directors of the Jjondon 
Missionary Society, the Eev. Dr. Mullens made a visit 
of inspection to the several Chinese Missions, before 
his departure from the East to assume the position 
of joint secretary to the Society. 

Ascending the Yang-tsi in the steamer Po-yang, he 
was painfully impressed by the state of things pro- 
duced by the Taipings, and writes : " The country on 
the south of the river for many miles inland was fear- 
fully desolated by the rebels, towns and cities burned 



FOUNDING OF THE HANKOW MISSION. 77 

by the dozen, and the people killed by millions through 
slaughter, pestilence, and starvation. On the morn- 
ing after our arrival we went over to Wuchang, 
and as I stood on the top of the hill in the centre of 
that city and beheld the three walled cities and the 
river beneath me, I could not help feeling that neither 
in India nor in China had I ever before looked on such 
a noble sphere for missionary labour. Wuchang is 
the governing city, and has a large population, in- 
cluding many families of most respectable standing 
and influence. Hankow is the great mart for trade, 
the most busy, crowded, active, wealthy place I have 
seen. Its chief streets and bazaars are full of hand- 
some shops, with abundance of valuable goods, and 
its smaller streets are close packed, and also full of 
people. 

" The mission is at the north end of the native 
town, in an excellent and healthy position. The two 
mission houses, consisting of one block, are well built. 
They are upper-roomed, and have good verandahs on 
the south side, and the lower storey is raised three 
feet from the ground in order to keep it dry. The 
garden is not large, and a boys' school is just finished 
along the south wall. 

" The Mission Chapel is in the centre of the city, 
just off one of the main streets ; it is an excellent 
building, the very thing for a bazaar chapel, and has 
a catechist's house and boys' schoolrooms behind it. 
I had the pleasure of hearing both Mr. Muirhead and 
Mr. John preach to a crowded congregation, which 
gathered in five minutes when the former mounted 
the desk and began to speak. In Wuchang again, 
not far from the north gate, is another chapel, also 
well built, with rooms for a missionary's visit, a 
catechist's house, and schools. It was with great 
pleasure that I examined all the work which Mr. John 
has accomplished for the Society in Hankow ; his 
buildings in their plan, style, and workmanship, and 



78 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

the localities in which they are placed, are most 
excellent. 

" You must have formed, I doubt not, a high idea 
of the value of such a position for missionary labour, 
as I also had done ; but in all soberness I can assure 
you that the reality surpassed my expectations ; while 
in our brother, Mr. John, I have been glad to find a 
man in thorough accord with the highest aims of the 
Society, caring for its interests in every way, and 
executing the work entrusted to him, as founder of the 
Hankow Mission, with singular judgment and dis- 
cretion." 

Such was the verdict of this most competent critic 
as to the material aspect of the Mission, and also the 
opportunities afforded for influencing the people. 

At this time the Church in Hankow numbered forty- 
two members, with several candidates ; forty-six had 
been baptized, but two were excommunicated, and two 
had died in faith ; there was also a flourishing out- 
station established at Tsai-tien, and cared for by Lo 
Hiang-Yung, where there were eight members. 





CHAPTER V. 

Native Helpers— Mission Hospital Established 
—Specimen Converts. 



~*~ 



' What the leaves are to the forest, 

With light and air for food, 
Ere their sweet and tender juices 
Have been hardened into wood,- 

8 ' That to the world are children ; 
Through them it feels the glow 
Of a brighter and sunnier climate, 
Than reaches the trunks below." 



-*~ 



Longfellow. 



The greatest trial in missionary life is the inevitable 
separation of parents and children. The sur- 
roundings of heathen life are very pernicious and 
unfavourable to their moral growth, in spite of the 
utmost care that can be exercised by the parents. It 
is also necessary that children should be sent home 
to be educated. So in November, 1860, Mr. and Mrs. 
John sent their elder boy Griffith (Mei-foh) to Eng- 
land in charge of some friends. Although very young 
thus to be separated from his parents, the climate 
had produced such bad effects upon him during each 



80 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

summer, that it was found necessary to do so. At 
the same time, David, their younger son, was very ill, 
and Mrs. John was ailing. After three months of 
anxiety, however, the little one rallied, and during 
the winter regained much of his strength. 

In March, 1861, a third son was born, who was 
named Arthur Gwilym. His Chinese name, however, 
was Tien-fuh, i.e., " Celestial Happiness." 

In September, 1863, David was seriously ill with 
dysentery, and for days his parents expected to be 
called upon to yield him to the Lord. It was, however, 
a trial fraught with blessing, and his recovery, after 
medical aid seemed useless, was especially helpful to 
Mr. John, who, just bereaved of his colleague, had to 
struggle on alone in "the centre of the empire." Both 
the work among the four Chinese stations and the Euro- 
pean community devolved upon him. It now became 
evident that the furlough to England, which would 
soon become due, could not be taken at the proper 
time. If a young man had been sent at once, some 
five years at least would have had to elapse before 
Mr. John could leave Hankow. 

Mrs. John, at this time, presented her husband with 
a daughter, and he joyfully writes : "Of course I 
longed for a daughter, and the gift has set all the 
bells ringing in my heart. Now I am satisfied, my 
family is complete. I don't think a father can be 
happy claughterless." 

In view of Mrs. John's continued weak health, and 
the danger to little David of remaining another hot 
season in Hankow, Mr. John resolved to send them 
home in the spring of 1864. During the winter, they 
had the great benefit of living in their new mission 
house. For two years and a half prior to this, they 
had to live in a native house, which was not only 
small and uncomfortable, but dangerous to health. 
As usual, Mr. John had thought of his work first, and 
the erection of the chapel was his chief concern. That 



NATIVE HELPERS. 81 

building had been opened for some time. Upon the 
completion of the house, he writes respecting his 
building operations: "I am heartily glad it is all 
over, and that we are comfortably situated. The 
chapel is rather small ; 200 might find room in it. 
I get a congregation of about 150 every day, and the 
service is carried on for about three hours. I do trust 
that God will bless the few people who have been 
gathered from among the heathen into His church at 
this place. All that I long for now is to see a large 
outpouring of God's Spirit on the work here. Pray 
that this may be the case." 

In 1864, Mrs. John visited England with her family, 
and was much strengthened by a year's sojourn in her 
native land. Meanwhile, her devoted husband was 
pushing forward the work outside Hankow. 

It was necessary to have a reliable native Christian 
as assistant in his aggressive rural work, but among 
the "Elegant Talents" (B.A's.) in Mr. John's converts, 
there was not one so well adapted as Lo Hiang-Yung. 
He was about forty- two years old, and had few educa- 
tional advantages. However, he was very persevering, 
could read well, and write a good letter. For many 
years he had been an ascetic, and, under a deep sense 
of sin and a fear of vengeance to come, had renounced 
the world and forsaken his wife and family. The 
opening of the Hankow mission was good news indeed 
to Lo. So eager was he to have all possible spiritual 
advantages, that he became a coolie, the lowest grade 
of servant, to Mr. John, at the low wages of fourteen 
shillings a month. He was most diligent in reading 
the Bible and speaking to the people, and often at 
midnight was heard pleading with God. Having 
reconciled his family to himself, Lo was taken in hand 
and trained as an evangelist by Mr. John. After 
several attempts and many failures, he succeeded in 
opening a station at Tsai-tien, a small place about 
twenty miles from Hankow. Many obstacles presented 



82 GRIFFITH, JOHN. 

themselves, but Lo's zeal, simplicity, and truthfulness, 
and the timely aid of Mr. John overcame them, and 
much fruit was gathered. 

Lo, however, was not satisfied with one place, and, 
having Mr. John's permission, he swept the country 
round, preaching everywhere. One day he arrived at 
Hankow with half-a-dozen gods under his arms, and 
presented them to Mr. John, with the statement that 
some months before he had been told that there were 
a few men who felt an interest in Christianity at 
Kwan-yin Kian, a small place ten miles beyond Tsai- 
tien. He visited the place at once, and a woman 
1 came out to him with a child in her arms, which 
seemed to be dying. The poor woman told Lo that 
she had consulted doctors and priests in vain, and 
she was feeling very sad. 

Lo said, "Your idols are false, the priests only 
deceive you. I worship the Supreme Euler. If you 
wish it I will pray to the true God for you and your 
child. I don't know whether it is His will that the 
child should recover ; but I do know that if it please 
Him, it can be done and will be done in answer to 
prayer." Then Lo " prayed, believing that God 
would answer." 

The next time he visited the place, the woman ran 
out to meet him, exclaiming that the child was quite 
well, and that the God of the Christians is the true 
God. Frequent visits were then paid ; and Lo re- 
quested that those who did not believe in idols had 
better hand them over to him, which two families 
did. These were the trophies he presented to Mr. 
John ; and since that time many Chinese have been 
converted at Kwan-yin Kian under Lo's faithful 
exhortations. Such is teacher Lo, a man of simple 
faith, but mighty in prayer and in knowledge of 
Scripture. 

Mr. John has, by the wise providence of his 
Heavenly Father, been aided by another stalwart 



b * 
5 > 






.3 o 



<S ^ w 



I? 



^O 




84 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

Christian of greater mental calibre than Lo, and also 
possessed of considerable literary attainments. This 
was Shen Tsi-Sing, Mr. John's principal assistant and 
friend. He was born at Nanking, in 1825. At fifteen 
he was pronounced Master of the Literary Essay, and 
at twenty-three he won the much-coveted title of 
Sin-tsai (Elegant Talent). He was compelled for a 
time to serve the Taipings, but being unhappy, he 
determined to drown himself. "While standing on the 
brink of the river, the thought of his aged and widowed 
mother caused him to hesitate. He returned to his 
quarters, and afterwards escaped ; but his wife and 
family, save one daughter, soon perished in the wan- 
dering life thus forced upon them. At Shanghai he 
heard the Gospel, first with contempt, then with 
doubt ; and in that state of mind he became a teacher 
of the Mandarin dialect to some missionaries. In his 
spare time he studied the Scriptures, and said of him- 
self at that time, " My sins appeared to me as a mighty 
sea, and to endeavour to expiate them by means of 
any talents, virtue, or learning I might have, with 
a view of obtaining heaven, seemed as futile as to 
attempt to cross the dangerous main on a small plank, 
hoping that it would land me on a blissful shore 
beyond." 

Such were Shen's feelings when he became Mr. 
John's teacher. He soon became a Christian, and 
was baptized ; and seeing he was a steady, hard- 
working man, Mr. John arranged for Shen to accom- 
pany him wherever he went, as his native friend and 
assistant. 

Soon after Mr. John settled at Hankow, Shen joined 
him to work, and right faithfully and sturdily he 
laboured for twenty-five years as a Christian evange- 
list, to the entire satisfaction of Mr. John. He led 
an exemplary Christian life, and had a strong and 
healthful influence on the Church at Hankow until his 
death in 1887, 



NATIVE WORKERS. 85 

The work Shen accomplished was prodigious. Daily 
he spent the morning in Mr. John's study, writing 
books, tracts, or letters, for which Mr. John furnished 
the matter, and reading or expounding important 
native or foreign books. The afternoon he spent in 
the chapel, preaching, talking, or debating as the need 
of the moment required. He had notices posted on the 
chapel door, and also in various parts of Hankow, 
informing the people that from six to nine p.m., he 
would be in his vestry to converse with any on Christian 
subjects. He also took part in the Sunday services, 
and visited the out-stations to instruct inquirers and 
strengthen the hands of the evangelists. He was a 
good preacher, powerful in refuting the arguments of 
the learned heathen ; and to Mr. John was indeed a 
friend beloved, and a most valuable helper. Such were 
the two principal men in that noble company of 
native missionaries who so long and so ably helped 
Mr. John in the Hankow mission. One has passed to 
his reward, the other remains to carry on the work. 

While active in superintending the affairs of the 
mission, and in vigorous itineration around Hankow, 
Mr. John felt much the absence of his family, and 
the need of sympathy and help from a European 
colleague. The oppressive heat of the summer in 
1865 accentuated his feeling of isolation, and it is 
not surprising that he did not approve of the sug- 
gestion of friends in England, that Mrs. John should 
prolong her visit another year. 

It was indeed a joyful duty to go down to Shanghai 
in November to welcome his wife and youngest child. 
The lengthy change had wrought wonders in both, 
and with a thankful heart he returned to his work 
at Hankow. 

An additional source of pleasure was the arrival in 
February, 1866, of the Eev. Evan Bryant, who had 
been appointed to the mission, and who entered 
heartily into the work necessary to prepare himself 



86 GRIFFITH JOHN". 

for efficient service. With Mr. John, additional help 
always means more work, not ease-seeking but in- 
creased opportunities to do good. He had from the 
commencement of the station, in 1861, cherished the 
wish to make it a model centre for missionary pur- 
poses. No large mission station is now considered 
complete without some provision being made for the 
medical wants of the population in which it works. 
In many places professional men render help gratui- 
tously to the poorer classes so far as their time permits, 
and where this aid is lacking, the missionaries have 
usually endeavoured to obtain some medical and 
surgical knowledge. A mission hospital or dispensary 
is, however, an expensive, although a most valuable, 
adjunct to a station, .as it involves the erection and 
maintenance of suitable premises, a doctor and staff of 
assistants, and the gratuitous distribution of medicine. 

Eemembering that the Master had often utilised 
the curing of the body as an opportunity to effect the 
enlightenment of the soul, Mr. John had purposed the 
erection, at some distant time, of a place from which 
medical and surgical aid might be rendered to both 
converts and heathen. In this matter, however, God's 
providence outstripped His servant's most sanguine 
expectations, and unexpectedly led to their accomplish- 
ment in the following way. He had long desired to 
see a chapel in the garden attached to the missionaries' 
houses, in which the Gospel might be preached daily 
to the natives who resided at that end of the town, 
and to which the servants employed by foreigners in 
the European settlement might be invited to attend 
on Sundays. 

About April, 1866, he mentioned this to Mr. Eobert 
Maxwell and several other mercantile friends, with the 
view of obtaining some pecuniary help from the com- 
munity. They encouraged him in the project, and pro- 
mised to help. But when the matter was brought before 
the Europeans, it was found that a much larger sum 



MISSION HOSPITAL ESTABLISHED. 87 

might be obtained if a Hospital or even a Dispensary 
could be added to the Preaching Hall. This fact was 
communicated to Mr. John, and he replied that the 
idea was in perfect harmony with one of his most 
cherished projects. The accomplishment of both 
plans would indeed be a matter for rejoicing ; but it 
could not be carried out just then, as there was no 
doctor on the spot in connection with the London 
Missionary Society. He was then told that Dr. Eeid 
would gladly undertake the duties in the medical 
department. The next day Mr. John had an interview 
with Dr. Eeid, and found that he also had wished for 
something of the kind, and had been studying the 
Chinese language for several months, partly with the 
intention of making himself useful to the people in 
this way. A plan for working the Hospital was sub- 
sequently arranged, and the Directors of the London 
Missionary Society gladly approved and contributed 
towards the scheme. 

When it became known that a Hospital would also 
be added, the matter was warmly taken up, and 
within three daj^s the small European community 
subscribed £300 towards the buildings. Other amounts 
followed. The building was erected, furniture and 
medicines procured, and the balance of £85 in the 
treasurer's hands was sufficient to meet the expenses 
for the first six months. To Mr. John the results of 
this three months' additional work were highly en- 
couraging, especially as the Europeans took such an 
interest in the Institution as to lead him to expect a 
continuance of their liberal support. He wrote home, 
" I greatly rejoice that the Hankow Mission is now 
complete in every branch. We have our Chapels, 
Schoolrooms, and Hospital, and all situated in excel- 
lent positions. With the blessing of God in connection 
with these means we may expect a greater spiritual 
change in this part of China." 

Scarce was the Hospital completed, when from the 



88 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

Yang-tsi branch of the river a flood poured forth, 
which gave both the town and surrounding country 
the appearance of a lake. Great destruction of goods 
and property ensued. Thousands of Chinese houses 
were deserted by their occupants, after they had clung 
to them as long as possible. The Chinaman, how- 
ever, is patient and good-humoured. His house may 
be ready to tumble down, while he and his family, and 
perhaps a friend or two, are sitting upon the piled-up 
furniture or upon the roof, in a state of half-nudity, 
laughing, punning, gambling, smoking, sipping tea, 
and merry-making as if nothing strange had hap- 
pened. In Europe such a calamity would elicit a wail 
of distress, newspaper appeals, and a general outburst 
of kindly sympathy and help. In Hankow it created 
but a slight sensation. The population seemed to 
think that it would do its work and go, leaving them 
much in the condition they were before. In two years 
all trace of it would be gone. Meanwhile the China- 
man has his bowl of rice and pipe of tobacco, and with 
these and a tolerable appetite he cares not for life or 
death. As to his mud and straw huts, he will run 
them up faster than the flood pulled them down. He 
will soon again earn one or two hundred cash a day, 
and gradually pay back the small debt which he will 
incur by the flood. Why should he be disheartened 
or feel crushed under Heaven's decree ? Fate is sure ; 
floods must come ; and with his practical logic, un- 
erring so far as earthly things are concerned, he 
calmly and without a murmur submits to the inevit- 
able. 

The attention of Mr. John and his dear wife were 
diverted from the flood to their little daughter Mary, 
who lay in a very critical state. Mr. John gave up 
hope of her recovery. However, after three months 
of very gradual improvement, she was able to go 
about, and then gained strength rapidly. Anxiety 
and joy are seldom far apart, and on November the 



SPECIMEN CONVERTS. 89 

1st the capacious heart of Mr. John was gladdened 
by the arrival of another son, who gave promise of 
becoming healthy and strong. 

In January, 1867, another colleague, the Eev. 
Thomas Bryson, arrived. "While he was for the con- 
venience of the Mission stationed at Wuchang, he 
assisted at all the other places according to the 
requirements of the work. The European commu- 
nity at this time made a very useful present to Mr. 
John in the shape of a convenient and comfortable 
mission boat. Hitherto he had visited the other 
stations in hired native boats, which were seldom 
waterproof. 

A Dispensary was next opened at Wuchang, which 
Mr. John and Dr. Eeid visited every Wednesday. It 
proved very successful, and often more cases required 
aid than could be attended to. 

The indefatigable Lo established a station at Han- 
Yang, the expenses of which the native Christians at 
Hankow resolved to defray. One day a mandarin 
insulted him whilst preaching, and tried hard to 
entrap him into a quarrel, but failed. Then he told 
Lo that he was a rebel, and that he must accompany 
him to the superior mandarin. Lo consented, and 
went ; but soon the mandarin let him go, with the 
advice not to preach again, to which he replied, " No, 
I must preach," and returned to the station and 
preached several days in succession, in order to show 
the people that the mandarin's statement that he was 
a rebel was false. Upon the third day the mandarin 
returned and apologised to Lo for his rudeness. The 
courage and success of the Evangelist greatly pleased 
both the missionaries and the native Church, the 
members of which worked with great diligence during 
the year 1867. 

Mr. John reported an increase of fifty-one members 
to the Church, and many more in preparation. In 
1862 ten adults were baptized ; in 1863, twelve ; in 



90 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

1864, thirteen ; in 1865, eleven ; and in 1866, twenty- 
two. It is interesting to note that among the fifty- 
one members, thirteen of them were women, and that 
eleven of that number were wives of converts. The 
missionaries were unable to reach the women in a 
direct way, and for six years Mr. John had striven to 
impress on the converts the duty of bringing their 
wives under the direct influence of the Gospel. For a 
long time it seemed hopeless to induce them to feel 
and act as Christians, and he was tempted to despair. 
They would maintain that the custom of the country 
was contrary to it, and that the feelings of their wives, 
which they themselves could not but respect, were 
against it. To attend chapel, and join with men in 
public worship, would bring not only the wife but the 
whole family into contempt. They would for the 
present teach their wives at home. By-and-by the 
national sentiment would change, and then it would 
be easy and safe for them to make an open profession 
and attend public worship. 

In 1866 a movement in this direction was discerned 
by Mr. John, and here in these eleven wives of con- 
verts were the first fruits of his five years of effort. 
He indulged in the hope that within a year or two 
the wives', and perhaps other female relatives, of all 
the converts in and near Hankow would be brought 
into the Church. Not a few of these new converts 
were the result of the influence of private members. 
Jeu-ki-pu, a carpenter, had brought in seven. He had 
been an active member for five years, and, although 
a poor man, he often supplied his workmen with rice 
to keep them from working on Sunday. Until this 
success followed his efforts, his relations and friends 
fancied that a species of madness had taken possession 
of him. They said he would do nothing but read his 
New Testament, and pray and talk to people about 
their souls and Jesus the Saviour. 

An interesting case of conversion was that of a 



92 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

young lower-grade mandarin, who entered the chapel 
with his secretary and some friends. Mr. John, see- 
ing they were learned men, directed his remarks 
towards them, and was pleased with their wrapt 
attention. On the following Monday he was surprised 
by the mandarin entering his study as a candidate 
for baptism. He was a native of Si-chuen, and had 
seen much of the Eoman Catholics there. Upon a 
friend inviting him to hear Mr. John, he replied that 
it would be useless to go, as the Catholics did not 
allow outsiders to enter. Upon being assured that it 
was different with the " foreign teaching " at Hankow, 
and reading one of Mr. John's tracts which was given 
to him, he went with his friend. He was well supplied 
with books, and soon mastered their contents, evincing 
the deepest interest in Christianity. He soon returned 
to his official duties in Si-chuen, with the earnest 
prayers of the Church for his success in disseminating 
his newly-adopted faith. 

At the same time there was admitted as a member 
a doctor from the Si-chuen province. He, like most 
native practitioners, kept roving over the country, 
carrying with him his family recipes and specifics. 
When in Si-chuen a copy of the New Testament came 
into his possession. He was told by the Eoman 
Catholics that it was a dangerous book, and that he 
ought not to read it. He doubted this advice, how- 
ever, and could not see why they pronounced a book 
dangerous which contained the fundamental doctrines 
of their own creed. Upon his arrival at Hankow he 
thought he would attend the services to see whether 
his difficulties could be solved and his doubts re- 
moved. Mr. John will not readily forget his first 
encounter with this man. On entering the chapel he 
found him and Yu-ki-fang in a hot discussion, the 
doctor propounding his doubts, and old Yu wondering 
how any sensible man could have any doubts on 
truths so evident. Seeing that they were not likely 



SPECIMEN CONVERTS 



93 



to come to an understanding, Mr. John stood up and 
asked him what he came to chapel for ; whether to 
cavil or to seek the truth. He assured Mr. John that 
his sole object was to have his doubts removed and 
his convictions settled. "Then," said Mr. John, "you 
may put any questions you please, feeling assured 
that anything you may say will give no offence." 

He showed at once that he had thought a great deal 
on the subject. " You say that Christ's birth was 
miraculous, but is a miracle possible ? Was it neces- 
sary? If there was a necessity, why should it be 
necessary solely in His case ? Granting the possibility 
and the necessity of it, what evidence have you that 
Christ's birth was really miraculous, and that the 
story is not a legend deserving no more credence than 
many similar ones." These are specimens of his 
questions, from which it might be supposed that he had 
consulted some deistical books. Though he seemed 
satisfied with Mr. John's replies, nothing further was 
expected. But on the following Sunday he reappeared ; 
and shortly afterwards came forward as a candidate 
for baptism, stating that it was the discussion in the 
chapel that removed his doubts, and convinced him of 
the truth of the Christian religion. 

These are specimens of the fifty-one converts added 
to the mission that year, and it may be easily sur- 
mised that such men as Christians would become 
earnest evangelists wherever their business led them. 




CHAPTER VI. 

Tour of 3,000 Miles through the Provinces of 

sl-chuen and shen-si— removal to wuchang 

—Visit to England— Return, and Death of 

Mrs. John. 

#- — 

" desert rocks, if one small leaf 
Can make these wastes look fair, 
What will ye be when these scorched plains 

Earth's richest buds shall bear. 
When Eastern suns shall cease to scorch, 

And storms no more destroy, 
And these lone valleys shall give forth 
Their streams and flowers and joy." 

Dr. Bonar. 
-* 

The great event of the year 1868 was the mission- 
ary journey of Mr. John and the late Mr. Wylie, 
of the British and Foreign Bible Society, to Chung-tu, 
the capital of Si-chuen, and their return through the 
province of Shen-si, a distance of about 3,000 miles. 
This journey will ever be memorable in the history of 
Protestant Missions in China, as the pioneer journey 
throughout that vast region in which the Han and 
Yang- 1 si take their rise. Never before in the East 
had the Gospel been so widely published by the voice 
of a missionary. 

It is much to be regretted that no account has yet 
been furnished of this tour by either of the travellers, 



TOUR THROUGH SI-CHUEN AND SHEN-SI. 95 

as, upon his return, Mr. John found such important 
and absorbing work awaiting him, that he could not 
find the needful time to transcribe from his journal 
the mass of interesting details to which the proclam- 
ation of the Gospel for the first time in hundreds of 
cities and towns had given rise. These provinces had 
been hitherto declared to be impassable to Europeans, 
and Mr. T. T. Cooper, who, as a merchant, attempted 
to pass through on his way to India, had been obliged 
to return to Shanghai. But the missionaries were not 
suspected of any political purpose, and were allowed 
to proceed. 

From the first the native church at Hankow evinced 
the keenest interest in the proposed undertaking, and 
in its avowed object of proclaiming the Gospel to the 
millions of benighted ones in " the regions beyond." 
The night before Mr. John and his friend Mr. Wylie 
left for the West, they were entertained at a feast 
given in their honour by the Chinese Christians of the 
London Mission Church. 

Let us imagine the scene ! The guests are in the 
place of honour surrounded by their loving native 
friends. On the tables are a number of basins piled 
up with fish, pork, beef, mutton, vermicelli, and stews 
of different kinds ; and for the after-courses there 
are ground-nuts, water-melons, seeds, cheese-cakes, 
biscuits, etc. Then every one is supplied with a 
pair of chop-sticks and a tiny saucer of soy — which is 
a sauce for fish made from the seeds of a plant, the 
Soja hispida, — and in the saucer a large China spoon 
is placed. A very little cup, not much larger than 
the bowl of a tobacco-pipe, is placed beside each 
person. At the commencement of dinner all of these 
cups are filled with red wine poured out of a teapot, 
as the Chinese always drink their wine warm. Then 
they are supplied with bowls of rice, and go to work 
with the chop-sticks, picking up the meat which is 
mixed with it as well as they are able. Towards the 



96 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

close of the feast, tea is served round. Then, after 
thanks have been given to God, mutual expressions 
of regard and salutations are exchanged, and the 
guests and their friends separate. 

On April 1st, the day of departure, many of the 
native Christians met at their pastor's house, and 
accompanied him to the vessel. Never from that day 
until his return, five months after, did they forget to 
make prayer and supplication on his behalf and that 
of the people to whom he was ministering. The spirit 
of missionary zeal spread from heart to heart, and a 
more sustained and fervent interest was felt by many 
in the welfare of the church. Twenty-two persons 
were added thereto during those five months. 

The progress of the missionaries up the great 
Eiver Yang-tsi was very slow, owing to the rapid 
current. The half-naked boatmen, from early morn- 
ing till late at night, toiled at the bamboo cord by 
which the vessel was towed. In some parts of the 
river the water was dangerous, and often would over- 
come the efforts of the men, and spin the vessel round 
as in a whirlpool. Occasionally additional men had 
to be hired, and as many as fifty or sixty were re- 
quired to pull the boat through a rapidc Sometimes 
the rope broke in the middle of a rapid, and the boat 
would go down stream at a tremendous pace, in 
a few minutes losing as much ground as it had 
taken hours to ascend. A kind Hand, however, was 
controlling all things, and the missionaries were saved 
from the rocks and other obstructions. 

It is worthy of note that the boatmen would not 
attempt the ascent of a dangerous rapid without pay- 
ing their devotions to Wang-yay, the guardian deity 
of the river, and making offerings. This Wang-yay is 
said to have been a child at a remote period. His 
grandmother being ill, the mother killed her boy to 
make soup for his ailing relative, and after partaking 
of this extraordinary dish, the old lady recovered. 



TOUR THROUGH SI-CHUEN AND SHEN-SI. 97 

The province of Si-chuen is justly celebrated in 
the other parts of the Empire for the many wonder- 
ful things it contains. Not only does it possess fine 
rivers, fertile valleys and plains, and magnificent 
mountain scenery, but its products are noteworthy. 
Thus, in the eastern parts of China, when one ob- 
serves and inquires about anything excellent or 
curious, the reply to his inquiry usually is, " Oh, it 
comes from Si-chuen." 

In various parts of the Yang-tsi there are numerous 
sand-banks in which gold is found ; and in the winter 
months thousands of poor people make their living by 
washing the gold out of the sand. The land which 
the river waters is more valuable than the gold. The 
travellers passed fields with a great variety of vege- 
tables, and rice in abundance. The latter is the 
staple article of diet among the poor of China. At the 
time of the missionaries' journey, the cotton plants 
were just appearing above the ground. Cotton is the 
substance from which all garments are made for those 
who cannot afford to wear silk clothing. 

Another extensive crop was that of tobacco ; and 
as there is hardly a Chinaman to be found who does 
not smoke, the quantity raised to meet the demand is 
enormous. Alas, that the smoking is not confined to 
tobacco ! Large fields of poppies were passed — the 
flowers being very pretty to the eye, and the feelings 
which arise from smoking the opium are doubtless 
most fascinating ; but like other temptations of this 
world, while remarkably pleasant, they bring certain 
ruin and death to all who persistently indulge in 
them. 

Among the trees of this region, the most remarkable 
are the tallow trees, and others which are coated 
entirely with wax, and just look as if they were 
covered with snow in mid-winter. All the candles in 
China are made from these trees ; for as Buddhism 
forbids the destruction of animals, the people cannot 

H 



98 GKIFFITH JOHN. 

conscientiously use the fat of dead ones to make 
candles with. 

The hills of this region are full of coal, and number- 
less pits are to be seen in the face of the cliff along 
the river banks. In one place they found several 
thousands of wells, varying from 200 to 3,000 feet in 
depth, from which brine is drawn and boiled down 
into cakes of salt. They were informed that a short 
distance from the river there were oil and fire wells. 
The mineral gas issues from the mouth of the pit, and 
is conveyed in pipes to any distance. Many other 
things might be mentioned, but enough has been said 
to prove that these provinces of Si-chuen and Shen-si 
comprise a region remarkable for its beauty and 
wealth. 

It requires a residence of many years in that antique 
country, and among that slow and easy-going people, 
to be able to bear the irritation of such a journey with 
something like patience and resignation. The fact 
that the numerous delays and stoppages gave the 
ever-ready missionary opportunities of delivering his 
Gospel message was a comfort, while the country 
through which they passed, being all new to them, 
excited their curiosity. The various interesting scenes 
and events that passed under their notice in the 721 
miles from Hankow to Chung-Kiang-fu made endurable 
the two months taken to accomplish that distance. 
Mr. John found many converts to Koman Catholicism 
in this province of Si-chuen. At Chung-Kiang, the 
commercial capital of the province, they numbered 
between 3,000 and 4,000 persons. 

From Chung-Kiang they proceeded up the river, 
and on June the 20th arrived at Loo-chow, a large 
city, where they remained three days selling Bibles. 
They found, however, that the boatmen would not 
proceed, as the 24th was the Dragon-boat Festival 
and a general holiday throughout Si-chuen. This 
fete is in memory of Keu-Yuen, who was prime minister 



TOUR THROUGH SI-CHUEN AND SHEN-SI. 99 

in the kingdom of Tzoo 2,000 years ago, when China 
consisted of several small kingdoms. This man was 
a relative of the King, and the object of jealousy to 
the court on account of his upright conduct. The 
other ministers laid plots, and by false representations 
procured his banishment from court. Being disgusted 
with this treatment in return for his fidelity, Keu- 
Yuen poured out his sorrows in a poem, which literary 
men still delight to study. He then threw himself 
into the river, but was observed by a fisherman, who 
reported it, and everywhere the inhabitants dredged 
for his body, which was never found. The search was 
continued for some years in honour of his character, 
until about two centuries later one of the emperors 
decreed that it should take place on one day all over 
the empire. So that although Keu-Yuen has not been 
deified, or had anything beyond his ancestral chapel, 
this memorial of the Dragon festival remains to his 
memory. 

The morning was very quiet and hot, as the mis- 
sionaries strolled through the town. Few people were 
to be seen, and they were dressed in anticipation of 
the fete. About three o'clock the river banks were 
lined with thousands of people, and hundreds of boats 
plied with passengers to see the race ; while the 
grandees of the town in their barges proceeded up- 
and down, making a terrible din with their gongs and 
drums to preserve order. One of these barges was. 
sent to preserve the foreigners from annoyance. 

At the appointed time the umpires took their seat& 
at the river side, and some half-dozen boats started. 
They were shaped like dragons, in honour of the 
dragon which controls the river, and were propelled 
by paddles like those which tradition says were used 
in the search for Keu-Yuen's body. There was the 
blue dragon, yellow dragon, white dragon, black 
dragon, golden dragon, and silver dragon, each 
manned by about thirty men. Two men stood in the 



100 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

middle of the boat beating a gong, to which the 
paddlers kept excellent time. One dragon had a fire 
in its mouth, emitting much smoke. The race was 
across the river, from the left bank to the right, when 
a man landed from each boat and gathered a handful 
of herbage, which was carried back to the umpires at 
the starting point. There was a very close contest ; 
and, after this trial of skill, the boats paddled about 
for the amusement of the people. 

From Loo-chow they proceeded up the Yang-tsi 
and the river Min to Cheng- tu, a city with a million 
of inhabitants, and the political capital of Si-chuen ; 
then crossed a mountainous country in sedan chairs, 
to Han Chung-fu, a large city 1,200 miles up the Han 
river, and proceeded by water down to Hankow. In 
this cross-country journey their lodgings were of the 
rudest description, and the strangest food was often 
served up. In thus accomplishing a long-cherished 
project, Mr. John more than realised his most sanguine 
expectations. He hardly expected to return alive, and 
wrote the day after his return: " My brightest hope 
was that God would permit me to see Cheng-tu, where 
I thought I could die in peace, knowing that my grave 
at that great and distant city would stimulate others 
to come and occupy it in the name of the Lord. 
While preaching the Gospel there I felt a thrill of the 
true missionary spirit, which I value more than many 
years of ordinary life. Oh, that it were with me an 
abiding sentiment, a ceaseless inspiration. There are 
two ways of looking at the work ; the one is the 
prudential one, and the other is the enterprising, 
doing-something one, of which the Great Apostle of 
the Gentiles is our greatest type and representative. 
Most modern missionaries are satisfied with the 
former, I long for the latter. The Directors want me 
to return home ; but I shall certainly not leave the 
mission so long as it indispensably needs my presence, 
whatever sacrifice the delay may entail. My heart is 






( • 




■'-2 --*p 



102 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

too full of the Hankow Mission and God's work in this 
region to admit of my doing that. I feel, in a way I 
have never felt before, that the valleys of the Yang-tsi 
and the Han have been taken possession of in the 
name of Christ, and that it is for me to live and die 
for the millions of precious souls that line these two 
magnificent streams." 

It is a matter of great joy to Mr. John that Cheng-tu 
has now been occupied for some years by the mis- 
sionaries of the China Inland Mission, and that Chung 
Kiang is also about to be occupied by the London 
Missionary Society. 

Soon after Mr. John's return, Dr. Shearer arrived 
from England, to act as medical missionary to the 
Mission. Besides carrying on the Hospital, he estab- 
lished Dispensaries at Wuchang and Han Yang, giving 
a day every week to each of these places. This arrival 
also led to another change which had important bear- 
ings on the general working of the Mission. Mr. John, 
in vacating his house for the accommodation of Dr. 
Shearer, found himself in the position that either he 
must go to considerable expense in renting and re- 
fitting a native house in Hankow, which, besides being 
unhealthy, would have to be vacated at the end of a 
year, or he must remove to Wuchang, and by making 
a few alterations and additions to the mission pre- 
mises there, at one-third of the yearly rent of a 
house in Hankow, render them capable of accommo- 
dating both a married and an unmarried missionary. 
There were many reasons beside health and expense 
to suggest the latter course. 

For a long time Mr. John had been desirous of 
rendering his colleague, Mr. Bryson, the assistance he 
really needed, and to see a flourishing Church grow 
up in Wuchang. That fine city, though a large and 
important sphere of labour, was still a virgin field, 
where hardly a furrow had been turned. The only 
labourers were one inexperienced missionary and the 



REMOVAL TO WUCHANG. 1^03 

native pastor. It was desirable that before Mr. John 
left for England he should lend the weight of his 
experience to the thorough establishment and work- 
ing of the mission there. All this had been con- 
sidered and the necessary repairs and alterations made, 
when another invitation from the Directors to visit 
England reached Mr. John. To have complied with 
that request would have been to sacrifice all the pro- 
spective advantage to the work in Wuchang just 
indicated, and for which the preparations had been 
made. The visit was deferred, and Mr. John took up 
his residence in Wuchang. He, however, preached 
every Sunday morning at Hankow, and paid visits 
twice or thrice in the week to that place and Han 
Yang. 

In extending operations at Wuchang, it was found 
desirable to have a Preaching Hall in one of the 
main business thoroughfares. The missionaries' efforts 
were thwarted by the undisguised opposition of the 
educated class of the inhabitants, who threatened any 
person who dared to render the foreigners the slightest 
assistance. Again the officials showed their ignorance 
of the man they had to deal with, and of the fact that 
" the word of the Lord cannot be bound." Once more 
the " silvern voice " was lifted in the open streets, and 
in every lane and thoroughfare the Gospel was pro- 
claimed in the hearing of those who had neither time 
nor inclination to attend the chapel services. 

In the midst of this arduous and successful enter- 
prise, a letter from the Directors of the Society, 
intimating that it was desirable to relinquish the 
work at Wuchang, fell like a bombshell in the midst 
of the little band of devoted workers. Whilst doubt- 
ful as to the full meaning of this strange intimation, 
Mr. John wrote a letter in which the successes, 
advantages, and prospects of Wuchang were forcibly 
stated. A week later, however, came a more decided 
letter, with the resolution passed, ordering the retreat 



104 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

in a very definite manner, and directing that the 
mission premises should be sold. 

Mr. John would not retreat ; but wrote with un- 
answerable force that the land and buildings had been 
almost exclusively purchased with money that the 
European community at Hankow had intended as a 
present to himself ; but feeling that he could not take 
it, he had begged that it be applied to "Wuchang, in 
which he had then just succeeded in obtaining a 
footing. While apologising for touching on this per- 
sonal ground, he intimated that Wuchang was very 
dear to him, and that to relinquish it would cost him 
a bitter pang. Mr. John refused to have anything to 
do with the carrying out of this resolution, not from 
a spirit of disobedience, but owing to a deep conviction 
that after having toiled between five and six years in 
this difficult place, he felt that to undo what had been 
accomplished, so far as outward appearances were 
concerned, could only be regarded by him as sinful. 

These representations had the desired effect. Before 
the year closed, Mr. John received the sanction of 
the Directors for the continuance of the mission in 
Wuchang ; also their approval of the remodelling of 
the premises as a place of residence, and a grant of 
£90 towards the erection of a Preaching Hall. These 
marks of approval were accompanied by an intimation 
that the Directors hoped to increase the number of 
European missionaries at Hankow within two or 
three years. 

These cities were in the year 1869 visited by a flood 
which rose two feet above that of 1866. Mr. John 
and his family stayed in their house at Wuchang 
until the water was within three inches of the floor. 
As there was no upper storey, they accepted the kind 
invitation of an old friend at Hankow, and took up 
their abode in his house until the waters abated. One 
of the phenomena of this flood was the immense 
quantity of sprats found in the waters. The servants 



REMOVAL TO WUCHANG. 105 

at the mission premises often fished all night with 
nets in the compound with great success. 

As one result of the flood, over a hundred thousand 
distressed and homeless people dwelt on the hills near 
Hankow, and were fed by the wealthier natives. One 
mandarin, a devout man, set a good example to his 
rapacious compeers, and behaved most humanely to 
his poor countrymen. This man, like many other 
good heathen, was a puzzle to Mr. John. Although 
virtuous, they did not seem to be the nearest to the 
kingdom of heaven. He could only account for it 
by supposing that their piety was grounded in self- 
righteousness, and says they were offended by being 
told to seek justification through faith in Jesus Christ. 

While thus hindered in mission work, Mr. John had 
cause for rejoicing in the birth of a daughter, on the 
20th of September, and a month later he moved back 
with his family to their little cottage at Wuchang. 
This was not only incommodious, but built so that 
they suffered much from the cold during the winter 
of 1869-70 ; while their discomfort was increased by 
the children suffering from small-pox. In spite of his 
distressing surroundings, however, Mr. John worked 
on vigorously, often preaching four times a day, and 
walking long distances. 

He had now been hoping for several years to revisit 
England, but adverse circumstances prevented his 
doing so. This winter he was again disappointed, but 
with characteristic wisdom he sought to make the 
delay conducive to the interest of the work. An 
opportunity occurred to put into operation a long- 
cherished plan. He had for years desired to see the 
converts coming forward and offering their services 
as evangelists gratuitously, and now five did so in a 
very pleasing way. After the morning service, each 
of these men would go out to a village chosen by 
himself, and conduct a service. After a week or two 
Mr. John accompanied them in turn. He writes of 



106 GEIFFITH JOHN. 

one : " He is the son of Christian parents, and I bap- 
tized him when a mere boy, nine years ago. It did 
my heart good to hear him preach to-day. His views 
are perfectly clear, his earnestness very marked, and 
his manner exceedingly agreeable and winning." At 
this service Mr. John met a half- enlightened heathen, 
and conversed with him on Jesus and His salvation. 
Soon afterwards he had the pleasure of hearing this 
man preaching to his heathen fellow-countrymen with 
remarkable clearness and power. 

While at this village Mr. John had interesting con- 
versation with other heathens. He bemoaned the 
darkness of their minds, and said they only sought 
for things on this side of the grave ; their hopes of 
the life beyond being to appear again on this earth in 
better circumstances than they were then placed in, 
while they dreaded reappearing as beasts or reptiles. 
The door of each house was covered with two large 
figures, called door-spirits, and charms ; and a looking- 
glass was hung above, in order to frighten the devil 
by a sight of himself. 

On the 30th of September, 1870, Mr. John and his 
family arrived safely in London, having come by the 
French steamer Imperatrice to Marseilles. Although 
they were in poor health when leaving Shanghai, all 
were much improved by the voyage, and Mr. John 
felt still vigorous after his fifteen years of energetic 
missionary labour. His arrival in England was a 
source of pleasure not only to his relatives and friends, 
but to the Directors and supporters of the London 
Missionary Society. His eloquent appeals on behalf 
of China were most stimulating. Few who listened to 
those full sentences and his well-modulated delivery, 
suspected that the English language was not his 
mother tongue. But chiefest among the enthusiastic 
audiences which hung upon his lips, were his old 
friends and admirers in Wales. As a boy he had won 
their affections and chained their hearts ; now his 



VISIT TO ENGLAND. 107 

manly strength carried all with it, and Wales felt 
that a voice of her own was drawing forth her best and 
noblest feelings. 

Mr. John at first resided at Machynlleth. Here 
dwelt his wife's parents, the venerable Eev. David 
Griffith and his wife, who had sailed for Madagascar 
just fifty years before, and had been expelled from 
that island in 1835 by the cruel Queen Eanavalona. 
Here also his most intimate fellow-student, the Eev. 
Josiah Jones, ministered to an important church. 
Thus the early months of his well-earned rest were 
congenially spent, with frequent excursions into Eng- 
land upon Deputation service. That year the Annual 
Association or Cymanfa of "Wales was held at Mach- 
ynlleth, and Mr. John preached an able missionary 
sermon in Welsh to an out-door audience of about 
5,000 people. But he found it necessary during 1871 
to remove to Swansea, to obtain educational advan- 
tages for his children. 

In 1872, at the Directors' invitation, Mr. John 
preached the annual sermon at the Anniversary of 
the London Missionary Society, which was afterwards 
published under the title Hope for China; or, Be not 
Weary in Well-doing. 

After rendering much service to the Society in 
England, Mr. John prepared to depart. He had been 
detained a year beyond the usual time allowed for 
furlough, through Mrs. John's precarious state of 
health. Both were now anxious to return, Mrs. John 
feeling that though she might have but a short time 
to live, it had better be spent in trying to teach the 
Chinese women, whom she loved so much, something 
of the love of Jesus. 

At their meeting in January, 1873, the Directors 
took an affectionate farewell of their esteemed friend. 
Mr. John in addressing the Board, exonerated them 
from any blame that might be imputed to them by his 
leaving for China, stating that " they had said to 



108 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

him, ' Mr. John, we could not think of asking you to 
go ; but if you feel that duty prompts you, then all 
that we can do is to wish you God-speed.' He was 
doing all in harmony with Mrs. John's feelings, and 
had consulted the doctors as to her health. Mrs. John 
had more of the missionary zeal than he had." 

On the 8th of February they embarked at Liver- 
pool in the ss. Hector. It was a cold day, and Mrs. 
John never rallied from the effects of her exposure to 
the weather. Gradually her throat, mouth, and 
tongue blistered and swelled, so that even drinking 
became a painful task. The heat in the Eed Sea 
was most trying ; and when that ordeal was passed, 
her sufferings continued very severe. She bore all 
with wonderful patience. While prepared to depart, 
she hoped and believed to the last that she should see 
China and labour there a little longer. 

The day before her death she told Mr. John that 
she would get better, but added, " I am in my 
Saviour's hands. I have placed myself there that 
He may do with me as He thinks best. Do you think 
He will accept me? I am very unworthy." 

" Yes, my dear," her husband replied, " He has 
done that long since." 

"Yes, He has," was her reply; and she talked 
about devoting herself to the mission work more 
heartily than ever. 

Mr. John was with her most of the night. Soon 
after he retired he was called to her ; but the gentle 
spirit had fled just as the early rise of the glorious 
Eastern sun lighted the vessel's way into the harbour 
of Singapore. 

"Up and away, like the dew of the morning, 
Soaring from earth to its home in the sun ; 
So let me steal away, gently and lovingly, 
Only remembered by what I have done. 

" Not myself, but the truth that in life I have spoken, 
Not myself, but the seed that in life I have sown, 
Shall pass on to ages, all about me forgotten, 

Save the truth I have spoken, the things I have done." 



RETURN, AND DEATH OF MRS. JOHN. 109 

She was buried in the European Cemetery at 
Singapore, and it was a comfort to her sorrowing 
husband to be able to lay her precious remains in 
that beautiful resting-place. 

Mr. John arrived at Hankow in a very distressed 
condition. The converts there were kind and sympa- 
thetic. English people cannot conceive of the intense 
love and reverence which these poor people entertain 
for Mr. John. Now their hearts ran over. At the 
Sunday communion service, before partaking of the 
elements, several spoke, but all broke down when 
mentioning the name of their " Teacher-mother/' 
and the whole congregation was bathed in tears. 

Mr. John plunged into his work again, although at 
times his feelings of loneliness and sorrow were 
intense. The progress made in all parts of the 
mission was most pleasing to him. Some to whom 
he had addressed parting exhortations on leaving 
had decided for Christ, and passed triumphant to the 
great reward. Good old Yu-ki-fang had been carried 
to his rest by loving hearts, who would not allow a 
heathen coolie to touch his revered remains. Others 
held on their way steadfastly. 

While thus engaged in reviewing and making 
further advances, Mr. John's heart was cheered by 
a beautiful letter from his daughter Mary — "all my 
own," the little matron said. It runs, " I am very 
sorry for you, dear papa ; I wish I was near you that 
I might comfort you. I must make haste and learn, 
and come out to you, and keep your house. Dear 
mamma is quite happy, she has no pain. Jesus is 
comforting you, and grandma and brothers and 
myself. He is giving us work to do. He won't 
let us stop still and feel sad, but he stirs us up 
like He did Abraham." 

The native Christians of Hankow had for years 
carried on by themselves open-air preaching at night. 
Mr. John attended one of these services in July, 



110 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

1873 ; and while standing there, in the midst of a 
large crowd of listeners, the duty of opening the 
chapels for night services forced itself upon his con- 
science. At the church-meeting he spoke to the con- 
verts on the subject, and asked for volunteers. The 
appeal met with a prompt and hearty response ; and 
night after night, seven or eight of their best men 
were to be seen proclaiming the Gospel. Though 
feeble at first, they rapidly developed into admirable 
preachers. They had begun in the hospital chapel; 
but feeling the scope for usefulness there to be 
limited, they wished to have the large city chapel 
which is in the centre of the town. 

The converts of the other Missionary Societies, 
hearing of the proceedings of the London Mission 
people, applied to their missionaries for permission to 
carry on a similar work. The congregations were 
often very large, and consisted mostly of men who 
could not or would not attend in the daytime. The 
whole of the churches were stimulated by this effort, 
and a very favourable impression was produced upon 
the heathen. The preachers were able to tell those 
who called the Christian religion the " rice-eating 
religion," that the charge was a libel; and that so far 
from depending on the church for their sustenance, 
they were giving their services gratuitously, and that 
the very oil and candles which lighted the chapels 
were paid for by themselves. The heathen soon 
began to see this, and acquired a more exalted 
view of the Christian Church. 

The Church now numbered over 200 members, and 
monthly additions were made ; but this is by no means 
a statement of the results of the work done. As Han- 
kow is purely a business mart, very many of those 
who were converted and baptized returned home, 
often to distant provinces, and the numbers of the 
parent Church were no index of the actual work 
successfully accomplished. Some of the missionaries 



RETURN, AND DEATH OF MRS. JOHN. Ill 

deplored this feature ; and doubtless it would have 
been more pleasant, and to some perhaps safer, to 
have been kept under the guidance of the mis- 
sionaries. But Mr. John persisted in regarding it 
as an advantage, and these distant brethren as fore- 
runners of the evangelists who would soon follow 
them up. Thus from " the centre of the Empire" 
ran light and life to every province. 

During the winter of 1873-4 a new and commo- 
dious hospital was erected at Hankow, principally by 
subscriptions from foreigners and natives, at a cost 
of <£1,350. Dr. Eeid, who had taken up the work 
again on Dr. Shearer's retirement in 1870, carried it 
on vigorously until the arrival of Dr. Mackenzie in 
June, 1875. Much spiritual good was also effected, 
as all the missionaries devoted part of the day to 
labour among the patients. 



-* 



K% 





CHAPTER VII. 

Literary Work. 



— -^ 

"No age 
Can outgrow truth, or can afford to part 
With the tried wisdom of the past, with words 
That centuries have sifted, and on which 
Ages have set their seal, and handed down 
From venerable lips of solemn men, 
Who learned their wisdom in a graver school, 
And in an age of keener, sorer conflict 
Than we have known in this gay holiday, 
When truth and error are but things of taste, 
Changelings of fashion, altering year by year. 
Guard, then, those ancient wells, those living springs 
Of which our fathers drank and were refreshed." 

Dr. Bonar. 
Xr 

As a writer in the English language Mr. John has a 
style in which terseness and lucidity are aptly 
combined. His productions have shown him to be 
one who does not write for personal distinction. 
Mission work, and the ways and means of its 
development, has been his theme. "While bearing 
directly on this point, and treated with great frank- 
ness and insight, these productions give readers the 
impression that they are side efforts, used as auxi- 
liaries to his great life work. 

In 1859 he wrote a valuable paper on " The Ethics 









LITERARY WORK. 113 

of the Chinese, with special reference to the Doc- 
trines of Human Nature and Sin." This brochure 
shows considerable acquaintance with the writings of 
the Chinese moralists, and defines their position in 
the development of their philosophy. 

His sermon, preached at the Anniversary of the 
London Missionary Society in 1872, is a masterly 
plea, the aim of which is to inspire "Hope for 
China,' ' respecting her attitude towards the king- 
dom of Christ upon earth. It was afterwards exten- 
sively circulated as a pamphlet under that title. 
Seeing that the zeal of many for missions was 
flagging, he wrote, before leaving England in 1882, 
A Plea for China; also, China, her Claims and Call. 
At the same time appeared a most valuable booklet, 
entitled Spiritual Poicer for Missionary Work. This 
is a powerful and effective statement respecting the 
work and power of the Holy Spirit, and is, doubtless, 
one result of Mr. John's experience of the inutility 
of mission work without Divine aid, as well as the 
fact that the results of spiritual efforts are abiding 
only so far as they are originated and sustained by 
the power of the Holy Ghost. 

It is chiefly through his literary efforts that Mr. 
John's name has become so well known in the Celestial 
Empire. In no country in the world are there so great 
inducements to the missionary to use the press as a 
means of making known the truth as in China. The 
written language is the same for the whole of the 
Empire ; and the same book is intelligible, not only 
to all Chinese readers, no matter what dialect they 
speak, but also to the educated amongst the sur- 
rounding nations. The number of readers amongst 
the people is very large. Every hamlet and village 
has its school ; the towns have many ; and the cities 
have colleges in addition. Everywhere education is 
held in the highest estimation. What the proportion 
of readers actually is will probably remain an un- 

I 



114 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

settled question, as it varies widely in different dis- 
tricts ; but when the immense population of 400 
millions is borne in mind, it is not too much to claim 
that a Chinese book can be understood by more 
millions of mankind than a book in any other 
language. The people have a great reverence for 
literature ; they carefully examine all the works that 
come into their hands ; and, although they may not 
agree with them, they seldom destroy or abuse them. 
The books in general use were written a long time 
ago; new works are almost unknown amongst the 
people at large, and consequently such are eagerly 
welcomed by them. Another important matter is 
that paper and printing are both so cheap that the 
press may be extensively used without involving an 
extravagant expenditure. 

"While there are these encouragements, there is also 
a serious drawback in the difficulty of the Chinese 
language. In this respect it is unique ; there is no 
other language or literature which can be compared 
to it, and the labours of a lifetime are required for its 
mastery. Chinese is written with curious-looking 
characters, familiar to most people, if only from 
seeing them on tea boxes. They are not the symbols 
of sounds, like ours, but of ideas ; the sounds, or 
names of them, change with every variation of 
dialect ; but the ideas they represent never alter. 
They correspond to our figures 1, 2, 3, etc., which 
mean the same thing to any European who sees 
them, although in each language they are known by 
different names. As the Chinese have a different 
character for every idea they possess, it is as if the 
whole language was written with figures ; and thus it 
becomes possible for people who speak different dia- 
lects to readily understand the same book, though 
they cannot exchange a single idea by speech ; just 
as an Englishman, a Frenchman, a German, and a 
Eussian would immediately understand what was 



116 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

meant by 250 if they saw the figures, but neither 
could comprehend what the other called them. It 
would be quite possible to read Chinese books in 
English without knowing a word of any Chinese 
tongue, by simply learning the meanings of the 
characters and the method of their arrangement. 
It would, however, be no light task, as the dic- 
tionaries contain about 40,000 different characters, 
although only about 6,000 of these are in constant 
use. 

The Chinese call their written language Wen-li, or 
' " literary style," while foreigners often call it " classi- 
cal style." This form does not correspond with any 
spoken dialect. In other countries the language as 
written is the same as the spoken, and any one hear- 
ing a book read out aloud would understand it quite 
as well as if he had the book in his hand and saw the 
page for himself. Wen-li, however, is addressed to 
the eye entirely, and not to the ear, so the Chinese 
reader must see the book, or he will fail to follow what 
is being read, unless previously familiar with it. This 
is due to the fact that although they have a most 
liberal supply of characters, the allowance of names 
for them, to correspond, is exceedingly limited. In 
Mandarin, the most prevalent dialect, there are only 
411 sounds, from which it follows that each sound 
must stand for a great variety of characters — some of 
them hundreds — all with different meanings. It is 
difficult for us to imagine how a language can be 
spoken which has only 411 sounds, or words, in it ; 
and curiously enough the Chinese have a similar 
difficulty with English : they cannot understand how 
a language can be written which has only 26 cha- 
racters. They suppose it must be a poverty-stricken 
tongue indeed, and often ask the missionary to teach 
them English, because they could learn it at a sitting 
— " only 26 characters ! " 

The difficulty is surmounted in either case by the 



LITERARY WORK. 117 

same means; we put several letters, or characters, 
together to form words ; while they, in speaking, 
combine their sound, by using two or more characters 
hi speech where only one is required in writing. For 
example, fit is a father, but it is also a wife, an axe, 
happiness, a labourer, a charm, and a great many 
other things besides. As written, one character con- 
tains the whole meaning for each, as they are all 
distinct ; but in speaking, another must be added to 
prevent confusion. Hence father becomes fu-tsin 
(father, relation) ; wife, fu-jin (wife, person) ; &xe,fu-tan 
(axe-head) ; happiness, fu-chi (happy atmosphere) ; and 
so on through a great many/ws. By keeping in mind 
this distinction between written (Wen-li) and spoken 
Chinese, it is easy to see that what is quite plain to a 
reader may be perfectly unintelligible to a hearer. 

Spoken Chinese can be written or printed just as 
readily as Wen-li, as there are characters for all the 
sounds used in most dialects ; but the Chinese them- 
selves are not in the habit of writing it, except on the 
rare occasions when they designedly intend to repro- 
duce speech, as in novels or plays. The bulk of their 
literature, their correspondence, and newspapers are 
all in Wen-li. The redundant characters add nothing 
to the sense as addressed to the eye, so they carefully 
exclude them under the impression that the chief 
beauty of a "literary style " consists in being as con- 
cise as possible. Missionaries, however, find that 
books in the various spoken dialects are of the greatest 
value ; people who can read a little understand them 
better, and they may be read out aloud for the benefit 
of those who cannot read at all ; hence they have 
provided an extensive literature in this which is called 
the "colloquial style." Such books, unlike those in 
Wen-li, are available for use only in the districts where 
the colloquial is used in which they are written. The 
most of them are in Mandarin, a dialect understood 
by three-fourths of the Chinese people. 



118 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

In his literary work Mr. John has strictly confined 
himself to the preparation of such books and tracts as 
have a direct bearing on the evangelisation of China ; 
although, to sinologues (those versed in Chinese lite- 
rature), the temptation to stray into other branches 
is exceptionally strong. There is still in the native 
literature, in its historical and philosophical works, a 
great deal which, if translated and put within the 
reach of foreign scholars, would be gladly welcomed ; 
and, as a result, bring much credit to him who makes 
it accessible. On the other hand, amongst the native 
literati, there is a rapidly increasing number of those 
who are exceedingly anxious to acquaint themselves 
with the sciences and arts of the "West, and who would 
be loud in the praises of any one who would provide 
them with works on these subjects in their own 
language. Although to labour for the spread of know- 
ledge in East or West is a high calling, and those who 
devote their energies to either of these important 
objects are worthy of all honour ; yet Mr. John has 
consecrated his talents to something higher still, by 
keeping to the single purpose of making the Gospel 
known to the Chinese. It may not be so much appre- 
ciated by the world ; but just as eternity is greater 
than time, and the wisdom of God higher than the 
learning of men, so far does the one purpose surpass 
the other. 

His first tracts were issued in 1860, after he had 
been five years in the mission field ; since which time 
he has constantly added to their number. The Cata- 
logue of the Central China Tract Society contains 
upwards of thirty books and tracts from his pen. 
Many of them have been adopted by other Tract 
Societies, and every year over half a million of his 
publications are circulated throughout China. Their 
titles show their character. Amongst them there is, 
" The Gate of Virtue and Wisdom," " Teaching the 
Family in the Eight Way," " The Guide to Heaven," 



LITERARY WORK. 119 

"The Great Themes of the Gospel," " The True 
Saviour of the World," " The True Way of Seeking 
Happiness," "The Truth concerning God," "On 
Regeneration," "On the Eesurrection," "On the 
Atonement," " On Eepentance," etc. ; these require 
no further explanation. He has carefully considered 
the needs of all classes ; some are specially adapted 
for the literati, and have been extensively distributed 
amongst them at the public triennial examinations in 
the capitals of many provinces ; others are suitable 
for wide circulation amongst the people at large ; 
while for the instruction of converts, and for use in 
public worship, he has provided popular catechisms 
and hymn books. They are all in the Wen-li style, 
and have been found of great value, not only through- 
out the empire, but also in Corea and Japan. The 
following extracts from the Central China Tract 
Society's Report illustrate their usefulness : — 

" Most of the good effected by such a Society as this 
will never be known by us in this present life, and yet 
there is abundant reason to thank God and take 
courage. We are told, by one who has been very 
actively engaged in helping on the Society's work, that 
he has received many interesting letters from persons 
in distant provinces, seeking more light respecting the 
doctrines promulgated in our publications. Moreover, 
he states that while on a country trip in Hupeh, in 
the course of preaching to a large crowd of heathen, 
he found that one of his hearers was tolerably con- 
versant with many points of Christian doctrine, and 
this man, after having correctly answered a series of 
questions put to him by the preacher, volunteered the 
statement that his information had been gained by 
reading a three-cash tract which he had purchased in 
Hankow. At length, however, a question was asked 
which fairly baffled the student of the small tract ; 
but this was replied to by another man in the crowd, 
a scholar, who subsequently proved by his answers 



120 GEIFFITH JOHN. 

that he had gained a much larger acquaintance with 
the truths we teach than the former. On being asked 
whence he had gathered his information, he said that 
it was from reading a tract, a large one, mentioning 
the name of another of the Society's publications, and 
further stated that the same tract had been read by 
all the scholars of his district. ' But do you believe 
what the book teaches ?' asked the missionary. ' With 
a few exceptions, Yes ; and on the whole we think it 
exceedingly good/ was the reply. 

" Facts such as these, of themselves, bear ample 
testimony to the value of the work done, and they 
bring to us an incentive to press on, even more 
earnestly, along the same lines. But there are two 
cases of interest which have come to our knowledge 
which, if taken together with the facts already men- 
tioned, should lead to a fuller recognition of the claims 
of this most important branch of Christian effort. 

" On the banks of the Fu Ho, a tributary of the 
Han Biver, there is a little market-town named Liang 
Ho K'eu, at which missionaries, journeying to and 
from the Prefectural city of Teh Ngan, thirty miles 
distant, have often called for the purpose of preaching 
the Gospel and distributing religious books and tracts. 
One of these, a tract, found its way into the basket of 
a wastepaper collector, and was being carried away to 
be consigned to the fire, when a shop-keeper belonging 
to the place caught sight of it, rescued it from destruc- 
tion, took it home, and read it. This man already 
possessed a Testament, which he had purchased some 
time before, but, finding that he could make nothing 
of it, had laid it aside. The reading of the tract, how- 
ever, which happened to be the ' Gate of Wisdom/ 
threw an entirely new light on the Word of God, until 
then a sealed volume to him, and by the blessing of 
God, the man was aroused to religious concern and 
enquiry. On visiting Hankow, he made his way to 
the Mission Chapel, became more and more deeply 



LITERARY WORK. 121 

interested in the way of salvation, and, at length, 
after receiving instruction both in Hankow and Teh 
Ngan, was received into the Christian Church in the 
latter city. 

"A native colporteur in Hankow was, owing to 
some building operations, compelled to move his stall 
to another locality, and finally took up his position 
outside the house of a merchant. At first he was 
treated by the proprietor of the house with consider- 
able rudeness and contempt; but the 'soft answer/ 
at length, ' turned away wrath,' and the merchant 
became so far pacified as not only to cease his perse- 
cution of the old man, but even to purchase some of 
his books. After a few weeks, the colporteur was 
surprised to receive an invitation from the merchant 
to enter his house, and drink tea. The conversation 
turned upon the subjects of the books, which it seems 
the merchant had been carefully studying, and before 
long the old man was engaged in earnestly pressing 
home the Gospel upon his former persecutor. This 
first conversation led to others of a similar nature, 
and an invitation to attend the Sunday services at the 
Mission Chapel was accepted. The newly-awakened 
inquirer had not been in attendance at the chapel for 
many weeks, before he, one day, to the amazement of 
his neighbours, brought out all his family idols into 
the street, and there subjected them to the test of fire, 
a test which, needless to say, speedily resulted in their 
destruction. At the end of two months, the merchant, 
learning that it was usual for members of the Church 
to subscribe regularly towards the expenses of worship, 
etc., signified his intention of becoming a subscriber 
to the extent of half-a-dollar a month, and added, 
1 As I have been attending services for two months I 
already owe a dollar, which I shall be glad to pay/ 
Soon after this he was received into the Church, where 
his bright face and earnest demeanour are a constant 
source of inspiration to his missionary brethren." 



122 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

Mr. John's mastery of Chinese was so conspicuously 
exhibited in his tracts, that he was encouraged to 
attempt a fresh translation of the Scriptures in a 
similar style. Upwards of thirty years — a very long 
period in the history of Chinese missions — had passed 
away since the Wen-li version then in use had been 
issued. Its translators were men of great ability ; 
but in the early days it was not possible for them to 
have the same exact acquaintance with the capabilities 
of the language as their successors, who had the full 
benefit of their labours, better opportunities for study, 
and all that a longer experience could attain to. 
When the difficulties under which they laboured are 
considered, the wonder is, not that their translation 
should be found faulty, but that its excellence was so 
high as to serve for so long a time. The chief ob- 
jection to it was that they had aimed at the highest 
possible classical style, and by the use of appropriate, 
but unusual characters, and a remarkably terse con- 
struction which this necessitated, they had made the 
Bible unintelligible save to the best scholars. So 
deeply was this felt to be the case, that missionaries 
had almost entirely given up using it in favour of 
local colloquial versions, notwithstanding that the 
natives object to them, and cannot be persuaded to 
regard them as " literature/' Hence the demand 
arose for a Wen-li version in a simpler style, one 
which, while satisfying the native literary taste — and 
in a conservative country like China it is needless 
folly to run in the teeth of this — would also be easily 
intelligible, and perfectly accurate. 

At the request of the National Bible Society of 
Scotland, Mr. John undertook the task of meeting 
this demand in 1883. The amount of work it involved 
was stupendous ; but through unremitting labour, he 
has completed the whole of the New Testament and 
part of the Old ; besides having the former carefully 
revised, in which work he was heartily aided by some of 



LITERARY WORK. 123 

the ablest and oldest missionaries. It was issued por- 
tion by portion, the New Testament being finished in 
1886, which won for itself unanimous approval. It 
circulates everywhere ; from the great wall down to 
Ann am, from the borders of Burmah out to the Yellow 
Sea. The scholar admires it, while the farmer and the 
artisan find no difficulty in understanding it. There 
are more copies of it demanded than of all other 
Chinese versions put together ; already about three 
quarters of a million of portions and Testaments are 
in the hands of the people, the annual issues being 
about 230,000. The estimation in which it is held in 
China, may be judged by the following extract from a 
review of it which appeared in the North China Daily 
News, of May 13th, 1887 :— 

" We are led to believe that the permanent Standard 
Chinese Version must steer a middle course between 
the extremes of the high classical and low colloquial 
styles. It must carry with it an air of authority and 
intelligibility ; and must call forth the respect, and 
be suited to the capacity, of the average scholar. It 
must neither involve too much labour on the part of 
the foreign missionary or the Chinese convert to 
master the exact idiom or meaning. It must not 
contain the colloquial of any district, but must be 
in the easy classical, or current style, known all over 
the Empire ; and which native newspapers have of 
late years done much to cultivate and improve. 
It must not contain note or comment, which might 
thus prove vantage ground for the introduction of pet 
theories or favourite dogmas. It must be an original 
translation made direct from the originals, and not 
the translation of a translation. But time will not 
permit us to say all that we think the standard trans- 
lation ought to be ; suffice it to say that we consider 
Mr. John's recent translation of the New Testament, 
in its amended form, to be a most praiseworthy effort 
in the right direction, and coming very near to the mark 



124 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

in all its necessary or essential particulars. Although 
still capable, perhaps, of further improvement, it is 
yet evidently quite equal to the present needs of 
evangelistic work in all parts of China. There can be 
little doubt but that this version will prove acceptable 
to the great body of missionaries ; although, of course, 
we may be very sure there will be many of the more 
fastidious who will stick to their crotchets and refuse 
to use it, preferring their own translation however 
inferior, or that of their co-religionists. It is to be 
hoped that the Eev. Mr. John will have health and 
strength to complete the whole Bible in the same way 
as he has done the New Testament, and live to see it 
make the impression on the religion and literature of 
the nation which he so fervently desires, and which is 
all the reward he seeks for his herculean labours." 

It would be easy to multiply such extracts ; but, 
as they are all of the same tenor, one more, the most 
recent one, from the New York Missionary Revieiv of 
the World, will perhaps be sufficient : — 

" The New Version of the New Testament prepared 
by the Eev. Griffith John, of Hankow, is said to be 
superior to any other ; and it is confidently expected 
that it will be adopted as a basis of a union version for 
all China. Such a book will be in a language under- 
stood by three hundred millions of the people. Un- 
like India, China has really but one language ; and if 
once the Bible were satisfactorily translated into 
that language, the result may be something such as 
the world has never before witnessed. The book has 
worked wonders before ; it will doubtless work wonders 
again." 

The above is no vain expectation. Already through 
the wide circulation of the Word of God and other 
Christian books, the millions of China are being- 
leavened. Far and near the people are becoming 
familiar with Christian truth, while the name of Jesus 
is as widely known as that of Fu (Buddha). There 



LITERARY" WORK. 125 

can be no question which will prevail ; sooner or later, 
the latter will pass away, and Jesus alone reign in 
China. How much even one man. may be enabled to 
do towards bringing about this happy result, is seen 
in the case of Mr. John ; the number of Scriptures or 
tracts which bear his name as translator or author 
issued every year is already close on a million, and 
will soon exceed it. Who can estimate their in- 
fluence ? 

The change will come, and those who know the 
people best are most hopeful of its speedy advent. 
In that day, he, and all others who have toiled to 
hasten it, will have their reward ; a reward compared 
with which the praise of men, or the approbation of 
learned Societies will sink into utter insignificance. 

Although in his literary work Mr. John has hitherto 
used the Wen-li style — generally called easy Wen-li, in 
contradistinction to the high classical, which is any- 
thing but easy — he is equally a master of the Mandarin 
colloquial, or court dialect ; and so satisfied are the 
British Bible Societies of his unequalled abilities as 
translator that they recently unitedly requested him 
to prepare a version of the Scriptures in that style. 
Constantly too he is urged by missionaries in all parts 
of China to furnish commentaries, handbooks, and 
works of every description for which they feel the 
pressing need. There is no mission-field in the world 
so vast as that of China, and this department of effort 
is one of the most important in it. In Mr. John it 
has been favoured with a highly efficient and inde- 
fatigable worker, and the earnest prayer of all who 
are acquainted with what he has already accomplished 
is, that he may be long spared to still further advance 
the cause of Christ amongst the black-haired race by 
tongue and pen. Although there are few who are 
privileged to do so much in a lifetime as he has 
already overtaken, and although all he has done has 
been done well, it is but little compared with what 



126 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

in China awaits the doing ; so while we earnestly 
hope that he may be enabled to persevere for long 
years to come, we also pray that through his example 
and the knowledge of China s great need, many may 
be influenced to follow in his footsteps, and devote 
their lives to this most noble enterprise. 



: Stronger than steel 
Is the sword of the Spirit, 
Swifter than arrows 
The light of the truth is, 
Greater than anger 
Is love, and subdueth." 

Longfellow. 





CHAPTER VIII. 

Second Marriage— Stoned by the Heathen- 
Endued with "Power from on High"— Con- 
tinued Successes— Death of Mrs. John. 



-~#— 



1 For souls, that carry on a bless 'd exchange 
Of joys that meet within their heavenly ran°-e 
And with a fearless confidence make known 
The sorrows sympathy esteems its own, 
Daily derive increasing light and force 
From such communion in the present course ; 
Feel less the journey's roughness and its length, 
Meet their opposers with united strength, 
And, one in heart, in interest and desion 
Gird up each other to the race divine." 

^ 



The value of the services and help which a mis- 
sionary's wife can render to her husband, as well 
as by direct effort upon the people, is nowhere greater 
than in China. After being blessed for eighteen 
years with such support, Mr. John severely felt its 
withdrawal. The work which he loved better than 
life greatly needed it, and he well knew that onerous 
duties awaited the lady whom he should again ask to be 
his wife. "When, therefore, in October, 1874, he married 
the widow of the Rev. Dr. Jenkins, of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church of America, he brought an addition 



128 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

to the mission at Hankow which cannot be adequately 
estimated. A few words, however, will suffice to 
show that this lady was exceptionally suitable for the 
position. 

Mrs. John was endowed with a combination of 
gifts and graces quite exceptional. Tall and graceful 
in figure, her finely-cut features were expressive of a 
rare blending of intelligence, firmness, and sweetness. 
She was strong, and capable of accomplishing much 
work without fatigue. She seemed to possess the 
practical nature of Martha with the contempla- 
tiveness and spiritual insight of Mary. Her frank 
and affectionate disposition was an attraction to all 
with whom she came in contact ; while her faithful 
performance of all promises, and other duties of 
friendship, bound all hearts to her. She had also 
a power of calling out the best qualities of those she 
knew, and could bear with people's peculiarities to 
any extent as long as she was sure that they were 
true in their love and friendship, and would stick to 
them tenaciously though they might have unpleasant 
traits in their character. This social feature was of 
great advantage to her in dealing both with sailors 
and Chinese women. 

Mrs. Jenkins had been amongst the earliest to 
welcome Mr. John in 1855 ; and in 1873, when 
bereaved and sorrow-stricken he called upon her and 
other friends at Shanghai, it was her spiritual con- 
versation which cheered him, and sent him on to 
work vigorously at Hankow. After Dr. Jenkins' 
death, in 1871, she visited America, and was greatly 
blessed by intercourse with the Christian friends of 
her earlier days. She experienced deep searching of 
heart ; and old longings for the perfect life in Christ 
were revived with such force that the Heavenly 
Dove descended upon her as a spirit of sanctity and 
power. 

Thus baptized anew, Mrs. Jenkins returned to 



SECOXD MARRIAGE. 129 

China, asking God to provide a suitable place for 
her to work in. One day, as she was going to Union 
Chapel, Shanghai, she met about half-a-dozen sailors, 
each carrying a bottle of whiskey or old Tom under 
his arm. A special interest in sailors sprang up in 
her heart at that moment, and she asked herself, " Is 
not this the work that God has given me to do?" 
She spoke to them, and passers-by were surprised to 
see those sturdy sons of the ocean fling their bottles 
into the ditch at their side, and accompany the lady 
to chapel. After service they went to tea at her 
house ; and upon that evening was commenced those 
Sunday Evening services for sailors, which earned for 
her world-wide love and respect as "the sailor's 
friend." 

From forty to eighty sailors and others would 
assemble in her drawing-room, and for several years 
these services were the most fruitful and interesting 
held in Shanghai. They were admirably conducted. 
Short fervent prayers, earnest addresses, and bright 
singing, made them attractive ; while her faith for 
conversions led her to be most direct in her teaching 
and appeals. The change produced in the general 
conduct of the men-of-war's men and other sailors 
was astonishing. At the other Chinese ports, and in 
Japan, a similar interest sprang up in the sailor, and 
her prayer for a work to do was fully answered, 

It is not surprising that the sailor felt both love 
and respect in return for the ardent interest taken in 
his welfare by this attractive lady, and appreciated 
her efforts to keep him from temptation. Neither is 
it a matter for wonder that when he was brought 
from darkness into light and life, he should continue 
to look to her for guidance and help. 

"Dearest mother," writes one of these dear fellows 
to her, " is there anything wrong in smoking ? There 
is a young chap on board the Frolic who told me last 
night, when he saw me smoking, that I had not given 

K 



130 



GRIFFITH JOHN. 



up all for Jesus, so I thought I would ask you if you 
think it is wrong, and I will give it up. I will do 
nothing that my Saviour does not love ; and any- 




MRS. GRIFFITH JOHN. 
{The Sailors' Friend.) 



thing you do not like, I will not do. I would not 
displease you if I knew it ; you who have promised to 
be my mother. You do not know how I love you as 
a mother, more now than when I was with you. You 



SECOXD MARRIAGE. 131 

were kinder to me than anyone else has ever been. 
If I had not known you, I should not have known 
Jesus." 

This is the way in which the sailors used to write 
to their spiritual teacher, and it proves that she had 
completely won the hearts of these honest, blunt, and 
simple-minded men. 

It will readily be admitted that such a worker was 
an acceptable comrade to the missionaries stationed 
at Hankow. There her efforts were directed more to 
the Chinese women and girls, although her love to 
the sailor remained the same to the end of life. 
Whenever a gunboat or tea-ship visited the port she 
was indefatigable in ministering to the spiritual needs 
of the men. 

Her spiritual aid and sympathy were most re- 
freshing to her husband, and he worked more 
vigorously than ever in each branch of the mission. 
When Mrs. John arrived at Hankow there had been 
no English lady at the Station for nearly two years, 
and the consequence was that the number of female 
converts had not increased in anything like the same 
proportion as the converts from among the Chinese 
men. Mrs. Johns advent was the beginning of 
better things. She set to work to learn the Hankow 
dialect, which is different from that of Shanghai, and 
soon was engaged in house-to-house visitation, with a 
Biblewoman, in superintending a girls' school, and 
especially in devoting herself to the instruction of 
the female patients in the Hospital. Day by day, 
through rain and sunshine, she was to be seen on her 
way to that Institution. Once, as she was passing 
the doctor's house in a broiling sun, he remarked to 
a colleague, "Well, that is something I have never 
seen in India. Mrs. John's devotion to these poor 
women is something wonderful/' She knew how dark 
and sad their souls were, and felt she must go and 
give them light and comfort. Her labours in that 



132 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

direction were not in vain. Some of the most satis- 
factory female converts were brought to Christ 
through her efforts in the Hospital. 

Mrs. John often accompanied her husband to the 
villages around Hankow. She had a particular 
liking for old women ; and it was delightful to see 
how she would take a wrinkled, withered old hag by 
the hand, tell her how much she loved her, and then 
.try and convey to her dark mind the fact that there 
was One in heaven who loved her still more. " Come, 
Griffith," she would often say, "and tell this poor 
woman something about Jesus and His love." 

During the cold season of 1875-6 Dr. Mackenzie 
accompanied Mr. John upon seven journeys into the 
adjacent country. They sought to combine the 
preaching of the Gospel with the healing of the sick ; 
and in these journeys nearly all the neighbouring 
villages were visited, many for the first time. 

In the new year, when the Hospital was necessarily 
closed, these two brethren took longer journeys into 
the Pottery district of Hiau-kan, about forty miles 
from Hankow. Here they had a rougher experience 
than any Mr. John had before experienced. God 
mercifully draws a veil over many of the perils to 
which His servants are daily exposed in speaking 
to the people. At Hiau-kan, however, they were 
furiously assailed by a heathen mob, and missiles 
of all sorts were hurled at them. The missionaries 
were struck repeatedly with heavy clods and stones. 
For about five minutes it appeared as if Mr. John 
were about to die. The Christian converts, who 
accompanied them from Hankow, bravely stood in 
front of their pastor and doctor, and as far as 
possible shielded them from the blows. Some of 
these poor fellows were terribly beaten. If any 
further proof were required as to the sincerity of 
their Christian conduct, it was now conclusively ren- 
dered. In their blood they witnessed for Christ. 






STONED BY THE HEATHEN. 133 

Mr. John says, " I never felt more calm in my life 
than I did in that storm, the prospect of death did 
not disturb my peace in the least. I felt thankful 
that I had been permitted to shed my blood in 
the cause of Christ. I had laboured many years in 
China, but never before had I been called to lose 
a drop of blood for Him. The thought brought real 
sweetness to my soul." 

Thus, amid the pain and conflict, God gave His 
people peace ; and what would, under circumstances 
other than the preaching of the Gospel, have been a 
disaster, was by His power turned into a season of 
consolation and grace. 

Mr. John visited the district soon after, and found 
all quiet. He preached freely everywhere, and was 
cordially received. In some of the villages platforms 
were erected by the people for him to preach on, and 
hundreds came from far and near to hear what he 
had to say about those things for which the Christians 
were ready to endure such suffering. The brutal 
assault and the forbearance shown, not only gave ad- 
vertisement to the "religion of Jesus," but caused a 
reaction of human sympathy to be created in the 
otherwise indifferent heathen heart. A good work 
was begun there, and bright prospects gave Mr. John 
much hope and gladness. Not the least among his 
triumphs has been the opening of a chapel among 
these very people who sought to take his life. 

During the tea season of 1875, Mr. and Mrs. John 
opened their house nightly to the sailors from the 
ships, and many interesting meetings were held. 
Mrs. John had charge of the musical part of the 
service, and also spoke very effectually. Ten cases of 
decided conversion occurred, and both were much 
cheered at the other good resulting from their efforts. 

Mr. John writes, " It is a sad thing to go from ship 
to ship, and from sailor to sailor, and to have no 
other reply than 'No,' to the questions — 'Are there 



134 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

any Christians on board? Are you a Christian?' 
Such is the state of things on Board these ships, 
although they come from Christian England." 

Many of the sailors were doubtless glad to have a 
Christian home to visit during their evenings in port, 
where good singing, lively music, and attractive 
conversation were to be found. Here also was a 
flower-garden which was the pride of Hankow. On 
her arrival Mrs. John had found a wilderness in front 
of the Mission House, and being fond of flowers she 
spent an hour or two each day, upon her return from 
the city, working in this ground. A great change 
soon took place. Beautiful plants, flowering shrubs, 
and flowers of all procurable kinds were planted. 
Writing at this time her husband says-, "It is the 
prettiest garden in Hankow. The sight of it these 
mornings, bathed in dew, whose every drop outvies 
Golconda's gems, is most lovely. There is a dahlia in 
front of our door with seventy large red flowers on it." 

Increasing success attended the work in the chapels. 
Over 120 were baptized in 1876, more than double the 
increase of any previous year ; and in 1877 many 
sought admittance. During the first two months 26 
were baptized. 

For a long time previously Mr. John had been 
profoundly dissatisfied with himself, and felt also 
that the Mission ought to advance with greater strides. 
He writes, "My own soul is going out in strong 
desires towards God. Eead Ephesians iii. 16 — 20, 
and you will see what I am praying for — ' filled with 
all the fulness of God.' I long to be filled with divine 
knowledge, divine wisdom, divine love, divine holiness, 
to the utmost extent of my capacity. I want to feel 
that ' all the currents of my soul are interfused in 
one channel deep and wide, and all flowing towards 
the heart of Christ.' I hardly begin to know what 
treasures there are for us in Christ. It seems to me 
that every one of us might be more spiritual, and ought 



CONTINUED SUCCESSES. 135 

to be unspeakably mightier than we are. It is the 
Holy Ghost in us that is everything; and the Father 
is willing to bestow Him upon the weakest, if he will 
but ask in the spirit of implicit faith and entire self- 
surrender. My cry these days is for a Pentecost, 
first on myself and my missionary brethren, then on 
the native Church, and then on the heathen at large. 
Without this we can do nothing. How I long for it 
as I am now writing. Your God has been revealing 
Himself to me of late in a way for which I praise His 
name. Large drops of blessing have descended into 
my soul. But I am waiting the melting of the great 
clouds into rich summer showers." 

The long-looked-for blessing came, and in such 
abundance and power as to leave no doubt as to its 
Divine origin. Mr. John lay all day on his face 
before God, wrestling in prayer and waiting to be 
endued with power. The next day he went forth to 
preach, but without a text. God opened his lips ; and 
while speaking, a veritable baptism of the Holy 
Ghost fell on him and the converts. They were filled 
with joy, and on all sides those who believed rose up 
to bear testimony to the love of God ; whilst many 
who had been babes in Christ Jesus became men, 
and spoke with boldness of Christ to the unconverted 
Chinese. Some of the vilest characters were changed, 
and went throughout the country ; and soon strangers 
from afar flocked in, as they said, to hear the Gospel, 
for they had already seen it in the lives of the converts. 

Thus the good work spread amazingly, and Mr. 
John's own testimony is that it is since the time he 
received " power from on high," as a special gift from 
God, that real and large success has come to him as 
a missionary. It cannot be doubted that the good 
wrought in former years was divinely effected. It stands 
the test, and some of its subjects are now glorified 
saints ; but his statement must be received as that of 
one who feels that he is taught by the Spirit of Christ. 



136 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

Early in May, 1878, Mr. John executed a com- 
mission for a kindred Society which was peculiarly 
pleasant to his pioneering tendencies. The Established 
Church of Scotland sent out a mission to be located 
at I-Chang, a city nearly 400 miles up the river. 
The Directors of the London Missionary Society 
requested Mr. John to render every assistance in his 
power. He accompanied the young brethren to their 
station, and remained there until they were comfort- 
ably settled down. Everything went on satisfactorily, 
and he returned to Hankow feeling thus his most 
sanguine expectations had been realized. 

Eumours of war were rife in China during the 
year 1880 ; and although Eussia was the immediate 
object of attention, there was a widespread opinion 
among the natives that victory over that country 
would mean persecution to the Christians. This 
feeling interfered with the progress of the work in 
the Hankow mission, inquirers were intimidated, and 
accessions to the Church were fewer. Still fifty-eight 
adults and twenty-nine children were baptized, and 
there were unmistakable signs of development. 

In the district of Hiau-kan the converts wished to 
build a chapel, but were told that the Society could 
not provide one for them. Mr. John, however, pro- 
mised that if they would furnish ground, and con- 
tribute to the building according to their means, he 
would try and get help at Hankow. 

Two pieces of land were provided at once, and the 
Native Church at Hankow was charmed with the 
idea. Some gave well, the poorest gave something, 
and the missionaries subscribed. The consequence 
was that two little sanctuaries, with a prophet's 
room attached to each, were built, much of the 
labour also being given gratuitously by the converts. 
This matter of building entirely by the converts 
was a unique thing at that time, as the Chinese are 
essentially a money-loving people, and their hearts 



CONTINUED SUCCESSES. 137 

must indeed have been touched to do this. Mr. 
John could hardly believe his eyes when he saw them 
bringing their strings of cash, so great did the 
transformation which they had undergone appear to 
him. The missionaries of other Societies doubted 
the reality of the matter, and one brother very 
naturally remarked that it was one thing for a 
Chinaman to promise and another thing to give. 
The promises indeed were made in good faith, and 
nearly the whole sum was paid in to the deacon. 
Here, then, the power of the Gospel is shown, in that 
the same people who four years ago as heathens 
stoned the missionaries, were now esteeming it a 
privilege to build a chapel for the religion of Jesus. 

Mr. John was greatly cheered by the opening of a 
purely Chinese hospital in Hankow by one of the 
converts named Wang Kien-tang, who had been 
trained by Drs. Eeid, Shearer, and Mackenzie. Both 
the ground and building were subscribed for by native 
officials, merchants, and converts. This hospital was 
made self-supporting by the fees paid by the patients ; 
and Dr. Wang gave his services gratuitously, de- 
pending upon his practice outside the hospital for his 
income. The best thing about the institution was 
that Dr. Wang told the subscribers that he was a 
Christian, and that he could only undertake the 
medical duties on condition of being allowed to carry 
on his work as a Christian. This was acceded to ; 
and on September 27th, 1879, the hospital was 
opened with a Christian service, and preaching has 
since then been carried on there daily. 

This year Mr. John and Mr. Archibald, of the 
National Bible Society of Scotland, made an extensive 
tour of over twelve hundred miles in the provinces of 
Hu-nan and Kiang-si. The capitals of these provinces 
had been persistently closed against all attempts of 
foreign missionaries to enter. On January 4th, 1880, 
these gentlemen were turned back from the gates of 



138 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

the latter capital. In the afternoon of the same day 
they had a long interview with two of the magistrates, 
who did not seem at all inclined to admit them ; but 
they managed to persuade them, and obtained per- 
mission to enter the next day. They did so, and 
walked about in every direction, saw all the sights, 
preached in the temple and streets, and sold as many 
books as they could spare. That the famous Nan- 
Chang, the capital of Kiang-si, was really opened 
on the occasion of their visit, was abundantly proved 
during the same year, when many missionaries, 
hearing of their success, visited it, and much evan- 
gelistic work was done within its walls. 

Eeturning by way of Hu-nan, they attempted to 
enter Siang-tau, the largest mart in the province, but 
were driven away. They knocked at the gates of 
Chang-sha, the capital of Hu-nan, but found them 
closed. They had a most cordial interview with the 
magistrates at Chang-sha, and believed that if they 
could have admitted them they would have done so. 
They said plainly that they feared the people, and 
dared not admit missionaries. In other cities the 
missionaries found a great and effectual door opened, 
and returned to Hankow in the hope that ere long 
the people of Chang-sha will give up their pride and 
hostility, and thus the last of the provincial capitals of 
China will open her gates to the Gospel. 

It must be mentioned that in this journey they 
visited the city of King-teh, a place of wider fame 
than Nan-chang or Chang-sha. This immense mart, 
one of the largest in the Empire, is famous over the 
world for its porcelain manufactories. Here no mis- 
sionary work had ever been attempted, and Mr. John 
had grave doubts whether any foreigner would be ad- 
mitted within the precincts of a place so jealously 
guarded. Their success, however, was complete. 
They landed without opposition, penetrated its 
narrow streets, visited its furnaces, and inspected 



CONTINUED SUCCESSES. 139 

every department of its porcelain manufacture. They 
also preached to immense crowds, and sold thousands 
of books and tracts. Mr. John will never forget his 
congregation in the centre of the town, the largest he 
has addressed in China. The missionaries had found 
their way to an immense square in front of the Im- 
perial Pottery. For a while the whole town seemed 
to be pouring its thousands into the square. Here 
they stood for hours, preaching with all their might, 
and both selling books as fast as they could hand 
them to the eager purchasers. A foreign face had 
never before been seen there ; the curiosity was 
intense, and the excitement considerable. Having 
finished their work, they departed, feeling more than 
satisfied with the conduct of the magistrates, and 
deeply grateful to God for all He had enabled them 
to accomplish. They looked upon their success in 
these cities as God's doing, and gave Him all the 
praise. 

In 1880 Mrs. John, accompanied by her sister, left 
Hankow for England. The reasons for her coming 
are succinctly set forth by Mr. John to his dear friend 
Mr. Jacob : " Mrs. John has been out in China twenty- 
six years, and the only change she has had for sixteen 
years has been one short six months some nine years 
since. The consequence is that her health has been 
running down for two or three years ; and about four 
months since she had a severe sprain of the ankle, 
which has kept her in the house ever since, and given 
a decided impetus to the downward course of her 
health. It is a great trial to her ; being so active, 
her daily life is generally crow T ded with work. There 
are few missionaries in China who work harder than 
she does, or who have as much to encourage them in 
their work. 

" I don't feel that I should be justified in consulting 
my own happiness, and keep her over another sum- 
mer. It will be a great trial to us both, but life is 



140 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

made up of trials. If you say, * Why not come home 
with her ? ' my reply is simple, ' My colleague's de- 
parture leaves the Mission entirely resting on me for 
the present. I cannot come.' " 

While his friends pleaded in vain, an unanswerable 
demand for his return was made. Mrs. John, who 
had at first improved in health, went over to America. 
Here it was found that other symptoms were develop- 
ing, and Mr. John was summoned by cablegram to 
New York. On arriving there, in March, 1881, he was 
much struck with her altered appearance, and dis- 
tressed at the intense pain she had to endure. Early 
in April a successful operation was performed, which 
gave much relief to Mrs. John, and eventually she 
recovered sufficient strength to return to England. 

Mr. John was very kindly received at New York by 
the Eev. Dr. Bevan, who with other friends vied in 
rendering all the Christian help and sympathy pos- 
sible during the great anxiety which he had to bear ; 
while many Christian ladies gave similar aid to his 
suffering wife. 

Mr. and Mrs. John returned to England in July, 
1881, and spent the winter among their friends. He 
was again invited to advocate the claims of China ; 
and at the autumnal meetings of the Congregational 
Union, and in many churches, he spoke with soul- 
stirring eloquence. 

Both longed, however, to return to their loved toil, 
and left England on February 28th, 1882. Mrs. 
John's stay in China, however, was of very short 
duration, and a relapse compelled her to return to 
New York in July, 1882, for further surgical aid. This 
was successfully rendered ; and again she essayed to 
take up her much-beloved work, arriving in Hankow 
in October, 1883. 

When in England, Mrs. John had received various 
sums of money from friends to be devoted to a project 
long contemplated by her, viz., the building of a Sailors' 



H 
X 
W 



f 

o 



> 

w 
o 

3 




142 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

Rest. This was erected in the south-east corner of 
Mr. John's garden, and as will be shown by the pic- 
ture is a very pretty building. Here the good work 
was energetically pursued, and also meetings of the 
Europeans from the community were held. Many 
sailors were converted during the tea seasons, and the 
crews of several British gun-boats were greatly blessed 
by the services in this charming retreat. 

Mr. John has always endeavoured to adapt his work 
to the peculiar ways of the people. One of the things 
a Chinaman looks forward to with the greatest joy is 
the prospect of passing from the old into the new year 
in the bosom of his family. For many days, towards 
the close of the year, thousands are seen leaving the 
cities in order to reach their native villages, and for 
fifteen days at least it is not orthodox to do any work. 
The time is spent in visiting friends, feasting, and 
amusements. In consequence of this Mr. John has 
chosen the New Year for visiting the country stations, 
as the men are at home, and can give their whole 
time to his teaching. His plan is to spend the 
day in preaching and talking to the heathen ; and in 
the evening in praying with and expounding the 
Scriptures to the converts. 

He left Hankow on the third day of the Chinese 
New Year, the 17th of February, 1885, accompanied 
by Dr, Gillison, the Rev. C. G. Sparham, a native 
assistant, and a deacon. About ten miles from 
Hankow they arrived at the river which runs up to 
Hiau-kan. The boats there were all gaily decked 
with flags, and the boatmen lounged about with no 
thoughts of work. But cash is an irresistible power 
in China, and some men were found who would move 
their boat, provided the contract price was w T orthy of 
the season. By travelling all night they landed for 
the Wei village early in the morning, and enjoyed the 
twelve miles walk across the country. The little 
chapel at Wei was visible long before they reached 



CONTINUED SUCCESSES. 143 

the place. A good congregation was assembled ; and 
day after day they preached to an audience which 
was continually coming and going, while Dr. Gillison 
attended to scores of sick people in the vestry. 

Sunday was a great day : several were baptized, and 
about one hundred sat down to the Lord's table. Mr. 
John could not but think of his first attempt to enter 
this village with Dr. Mackenzie, and how they were 
ruthlessly assailed by the mob and driven back to 
Hankow. He also remembered his second visit, when, 
standing on the ground where the chapel is now built, 
he told the few converts then there, that he felt sure 
the spot on which they stood was to be the site of 
their first sanctuary in that region. 

At the other villages, and at the city of Hiau-kan, 
the work was not progressing so favourably. At the 
Lin village the heathen people maintained an indif- 
ferent attitude, and stood aloof. Two of the Christians 
were ill : these they called upon and prayed with ; 
then they separated. That night a messenger fol- 
lowed them to the city of Hiau-kan, and entreated 
them to return, as one of the Christians was dead, 
and the heathen party were up in arms as to the 
manner, time, and place of his burial. 

In the morning Mr. John and Mr. Sparham re- 
turned, and endeavoured to show the heathen how 
unreasonable it was on their part to interfere with the 
Christians in these matters, and asked w r hat they 
would think if the Christians took it upon them to 
dictate to the heathen party as to how they should 
bury their dead. They proposed that the body should 
be kept for 100 days, w T hich was refused as unreason- 
able. They then proposed that the coffin should be 
placed on the ground, but not buried for 180 days, 
They then proposed to allow the old man to be buried 
if Mr. John would guarantee that no one should die 
at that village for 100 days. They were told that he 
was a man, and not God, and also that if they did not 



144 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

allow the burial the matter would be brought before 
the magistrate. 

Then an old man came forward and asked that 
another spot be chosen, as the ground fixed upon 
would interfere geomantically with a neighbour's grave. 
Mr. John said they did not believe in georaancy, and 
one spot was as good as another, and that personally 
he would meet their wishes if the relatives did not 
object. The widow's permission being obtained, a 
place near at hand was chosen, and the old Christian 
buried decently, in the presence of a large heathen 
crowd. Mr. John hoped that his conciliatory manner 
would draw the heathen towards the missionaries, 
and was glad to show that, while holding firmly to his 
convictions, he had no desire to treat their fears with 
contempt, however foolish they appeared to him. He 
was, therefore, specially glad to hear one say, as he 
departed, " That foreign teacher is a good man." 

On their w T ay back to Hankow they called at 
Tsai-tien, and found one of the Christians had been 
beaten by a mob, led by a Buddhist priest, because 
he would not contribute to a heathen festival. For 
years the Christians had been troubled in this 
district on the same score by the heathen, who now 
had taken courage by the Chinese successes in the 
French war, and were convinced that the day had 
arrived when the foreigner should be cast out and 
the religion of Jesus banished from the land. The 
matter was brought before the magistrate, who 
issued a very satisfactory proclamation, reminding 
the people of the Treaty rights of Christian converts, 
and ending with a solemn warning that if such deeds 
of violence were repeated the full penalty would be 
meted out to the offenders. 

The phlegmatic nature of the Chinaman is such 
that he seldom manifests excited feelings over any 
topic. But in the beginning of October, 1885, a 
pleasing event occurred which broke in upon the 



CONTINUED SUCCESSES. 145 

habitual calm, and called forth an exhibition of 
enthusiasm on the part of the Hankow converts such 
as is rarely witnessed in China. The event referred 
to was the celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of 
the arrival in China of the Eev. Griffith John, and the 
feelings it called forth on the part of the native brethren 
were somewhat surprising to all the missionaries. 

On that day some three hundred persons assembled 
in the Hospital Chapel — which the converts had 
decorated very tastefully in Chinese style, and of 
which the accompanying illustration will give some 
idea — to present to Mr. John a set of three handsome 
tablets, on which are recorded, the esteem* and 
affection in which he is held by his Chinese brethren. 
The central and important tablet contains four large 
gilt characters on a green silk ground, which mean 
to the initiated that Mr. John is regarded as " the 
benefactor of the Eastern regions." 

Although the handsome tablets on the wall, which 
are visible in the picture, and the fine decorations of 
many-coloured hangings, which were beautiful both 
for correctness of taste and for richness of effect, 
spoke of many loving hearts and hands, the best 
part of the proceedings commenced when the converts 
rose one after another, in quick succession, to testify 
to God's goodness in bringing their beloved pastor 
into their midst, and in preserving him for so many 
years in health and strength to labour at Hankow. 
A graceful. tribute was also paid by Mr. Archibald, 
of the National Bible Society of Scotland, to the 
good old man, Mr. Shen, who for twenty-eight years 
had faithfully assisted Mr. John. 

After Mr. John had made a reply, in which he 
mentioned how his early love for Madagascar had 
been overruled by God, who also opened a way for 
him to China; several adults and children were 
baptized, and some two hundred and fifty Christians 
joined in a communion service. How different from 

L 



146 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

this scene was that of the two or three newly- 
awakened Christians, timidly joining with Mr. John 
in his native house, twenty-four years before, to 
perform the same act of love and service. Then 
having lovingly remembered those friends who had 
long joined the Church triumphant, the first Thanks- 
giving Service held in Central China ended. 

At this time their principal place of worship in 
Hankow, called the Kia Kiai Chapel, was rebuilt. 
It was the old chapel which had been the first built in 
Central China. For more than twenty years the 
Gospel was preached in it for hours every day, and 
there are men in every province of the vast Empire 
who learned something of the truth there. In it 
were sown seeds which have resulted in many other 
chapels being built in Hankow and the surrounding 
country. Mr. John prayed, "May the glory of this 
second temple be greater than that of the first.' ' We 
believe it will be so. 

Thus ever-widening success attended the Hankow 
Mission, and gladdened the heart of Mr. John. In 
the midst of it, however, and before the year 1885 
closed, he experienced a heavy loss in the departure 
of his beloved wife to her eternal reward. 

Mrs. John's death was a harmonious supplement to 
her life. For about three months she had felt poorly ; 
but neither her husband nor herself had any appre- 
hensions of danger until Christmas Day in 1885, 
when she had several severe chills, and in the after- 
noon intense pain, followed by what Dr. Gillison pro- 
nounced to be peritonitic symptoms. All the help which 
love and medical skill could render was afforded to the 
patient, but she gradually grew worse. Her husband 
and friends hoped to the last ; but two hours before 
the time of her departure a great change came over 
her, and their hearts began to sink. During those 
two hours she gave expression to her faith and hope 
in the clearest manner. She seemed to recognise the 



148 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

Presence of the King in His beauty, and the veil was 
removed from heaven as that redeemed one waded the 
river. It was a triumphant passage. Through weak- 
ness her words could not be uttered distinctly, but 
they were wonderful words — constantly repeated — 
such as " Jesus ! Precious ! Jesus, Saviour ! Come, 
Lord Jesus ! Bliss ! Griffith ! Don't fret, Griffith ! " 

Her husband asked if she was happy. In an in- 
stant a strange light shone upon or from her face ; 
she opened her eyes, and fixing them on heaven, said, 
" Jesus, the Lord! Beautiful!" During the last 
half hour this was frequently repeated, and she 
heaved her last sigh with the words upon her lips. 

Those present can never forget what they saw and 
heard during that half hour. They felt heaven was 
in their midst, and that they were near the King. 
"What was that light ? Was it not the reflection of 
another Face which was just then smiling upon her ? 
The spirit fled ; but a responsive smile remained, 
so beautiful that those who gazed upon it found it 
difficult to believe that the soul — stimulated by that 
vision — was not still behind, lighting it up. 

"A soul still upward bent 

On higher flight, 

With wing of light ; 
That shall be thine ! 

All well with thee ; 
Oh, would that it were mine ! " 

The devoted husband, faithful to what he conceived 
would have been her expressed wishes, carried her 
remains down the Yang-tsi in the ss. Kiang Kivan, 
and laid them in the beautiful cemetery at Shanghai. 
His daughter, who has ever been a comfort and help, 
accompanied him on this sorrowful journey. Never 
were the views of the " Celestial Kingdom" more 
impressive to these mourning ones as they floated 
through the beautiful gorges, past the Silver and 
Golden Islands, to the spot she loved most in the East. 




CHAPTER IX, 

Faint, yet Pursuing— The arms of China wide 
open to the gospel— happy deaths. 



^ 



' So long Thy power hath blessed me, sure it still 

Will lead me on, 
O'er dale and hill, through stream and torrent, till 

The night is gone ; 
And with the morn those angel faces smile 
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile." 

^ 



Weakness and sorrow were the chief features of 
Mr. John's experience of life in 1886. One 
source of satisfaction and joy was afforded him in 
the completion and opening of a beautiful new 
chapel, with a large vestry or guest hall, native 
pastor's house, girls' school, and teachers' rooms. 
All these, together with a book-shop, were erected in 
several buildings upon one large piece of ground. 
Like the Sailors' Best, they were the outcome of that 
pilgrimage of pain made by Mrs. John to New York 
and England in 1881, when Mr. John was so hurriedly 
summoned to her. Although their hearts begrudged 
the valuable time apparently taken from the Mission 



150 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

in Hankow, that season of anxiety is now proved to 
have been fraught with blessings to that work. "While 
Mr. John, accompanied by his wife, undertook many 
fatiguing journeys as a deputation from the Society 
when in England, the necessity for building a new 
chapel in the principal native street of Hankow was 
not forgotten. The few subscriptions gathered fell 
far short of the sum needed. At the very last 
moment, and when the enterprise seemed doomed 
to failure, a few friends in a farewell meeting quietly 
raised enough to complete the sum that had been 
mentioned. On account of the great rise in the price 
of land this sum proved insufficient ; but other friends 
came forward, and the money required, about dGl,000, 
was obtained. 

On the morning of Sunday, the 27th of June, about 
300 Christians assembled in the new chapel for the 
first time. It had never been their lot to worship God 
in such a place as that ; and the arched and orna- 
mental roof, the graceful pointed windows with their 
diamond-coloured panes, the prettily-carved platform, 
and the general appearance, which had been specially 
designed to please Chinese taste, produced a very 
gratifying effect on the converts. Some of them 
have since said that during those opening services 
God became to them higher, grander, and worthier of 
praise. 

In the afternoon 450 Christians attended the 
service, when the Rev. David Hill, Chairman of the 
Wesleyan Hankow District Committee, preached from 
Gen. xxviii. 17 : " This is none other but the house of 
God, and this is the gate of heaven." 

Other services followed, and the happiness of the 
people seemed to grow day by day as they became 
more familiar with their beautiful spiritual home. 
It will be well to give some details of this the largest 
and most beautiful Protestant church in Central 
China, 



THE ARMS OF CHINA OPEN TO THE GOSPEL. 151 

The passage to the mission ground from the street 
is through a high and imposing Chinese entrance, 
on the left side of which is a book- shop, where the 
chapel-keeper sells Bibles and tracts. Inside this 
entrance is a square paved courtyard, and right 
across is the chapel, the front view of which is shown 
in the accompanying picture. The double central 
window over the doorway has been dedicated to the 
memory of the friends at "Westminster Chapel, who 
supplied such a large portion of the contributions. 
A similar coloured window at the back reminds 
the converts of the late Mrs. John, whose lot it 
was, like that of David, not to be permitted to see 
the completion of the house of God, for which she 
had so long prayed and worked. Another window is 
in memory of the late John Kemp Welch, Esq. ; 
while the platform, which is quite a work of art, was 
the kind contribution of Dr. Thomas of Liverpool 
and his congregation. At the back of the chapel is 
another courtyard filled with stands of flowers and 
plants, and you then enter a large vestry or guest 
hall furnished in good Chinese style. At the back of 
this building is a substantial six-roomed house for 
good old deacon Tseng and his wife, who are re- 
markable among the Chinese for their cleanliness 
and good taste. Behind Tseng's house is a small 
square garden, on the other side of which is 
Mrs. Arnold Foster's Girls' School and teachers' 
rooms. This splendid property has been built in 
native style, as it is cheaper and better suited for 
the purpose. All must feel that out of that dark 
and sorrowful furlough of 1881 there now shines 
a great light, which adds many long-needed facili- 
ties for usefulness to the workers in the Hankow 
Mission. 

This year will be ever memorable for the remark- 
able proclamation issued from the Tsung-li Yamen 
(Government office) at Peking. It will be seen that 



152 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

the tone which pervades this proclamation is totally 
different from that of the edict of 1844, which at the 
time called forth such a feeling of thankfulness from 
all who were interested in the evangelisation of China. 
It not only states that a profession of Christianity is 
not in itself a crime, it bids the people in general 
to live on terms of friendship and good-will with 
their Christian neighbours, and exhorts all local 
magistrates to treat Christian applicants for justice 
with perfect impartiality. The proclamation here 
given was issued by the Governor of the Chekiang 
province : — 

" In the 3rd moon of the present year (April, 1886), 
instructions to the following effect were received from 
the Tsung-li Yamen : — 

" ' The protection of Christian converts being pro- 
vided for in the Treaties, and friendly relations having 
now been re-established between China and France, 
it becomes our duty to draw attention to the Imperial 
Decree, issued in the 7th moon of the 10th year of 
Kuang Hsii (August, 1884), which laid down that, 
wherever there was a church or chapel, proclamations 
should be issued with a view to securing harmony 
between the people and the converts.' At the time of 
the receipt of this dispatch, I gave the necessary 
directions ; but passing, as they would, through many 
hands, there has, of course, been danger of delay or 
error in their execution, and a possibility of the pro- 
clamation not having been uniformly promulgated. 
In respectful furtherance, therefore, of the benevolent 
intentions of the State, I feel it incumbent on me to 
put the matter in plain terms. Know, therefore, all 
men of whatsoever sort or condition, that the sole 
object of establishing chapels is to exhort men to do 
right : those who embrace Christianity do not cease 
to be Chinese, and both sides should therefore continue 
to live in peace, and not let mutual jealousies be the 
cause of strife between them. If cases come before 




mi ■^■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■^■■■■iiiiiiiiiiimiii» »»■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■! 




FRONT OF THE NEW CHAPEL, HANKOW, 



154 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

the courts, the local authority should investigate them 
impartially, having regard only to the merits of the 
case, and not to the religion of the litigants, and 
should give his decision quickly : thus neither party 
shall inflict injury on the other, each shall pursue in 
peace and quietude its various callings, and the desire of 
the State to include in its kindly benevolence the men 
from afar equally with its own people shall not, I trust, 
be frustrated. From the date of this proclamation, 
any lawless vagabonds who make trouble or stir up 
strife without a cause shall be punished with the 
utmost rigour of the law : no mercy will be shown, so 
beware ! " 

In one other respect, not alluded to in the above 
proclamation, a great difference is noticeable between 
the present manifesto of the Government and that of 
1844. The proclamation posted up at Shanghai con- 
tains the following sentences : — " Bear in mind that 
when missionaries live in the midst of your villages, 
you and they are mutually in the relationship of host 
and guest. ... It is your foremost duty to act to- 
wards them with courtesy and forbearance." How 
different the state of things here presupposed from 
that which existed when the former edict was pub- 
lished ! Then, the missionary was restricted to the 
five open ports ; now, even the country districts and 
villages of the empire are open to him. Eighty years 
are a long time in the history of an individual. They 
are a very short time in the history of a nation. Who 
can say, after comparing the proclamations of 1886 
with the edict of 1805, that Christianity is making no 
way in China ? The progress made is enormous. God 
has overruled all the political events of the past eighty 
years, to effect an almost complete change in the 
religious policy of the Emperor of China, which is 
visible to the whole world. An even greater change 
is silently taking place in the thoughts and feelings of 
the people of China in reference to religion, by means 



HAPPY DEATHS. 155 

of spiritual forces, of which the world takes little 
cognizance. 

One of the most interesting events of the year 1887 
was the opening of the new chapel at Han Yang. 
Some of the converts there are among the brightest 
and best Mr. John has seen, and have been inde- 
fatigable in their attendance and help at the Hankow 
chapel. Although residing six or seven miles distant, 
neither wind, rain, nor snow could keep them away 
from the Sunday services. These poor people bought 
the land, and their fellow Christians at Hankow and 
Wuchang raised a goodly sum towards the building. 
The opening day was one long to be remembered for 
the joy and pleasure experienced. All hearts were 
full, eloquent speeches were made, several converts 
were baptized, and a great impetus was given to 
the Churches in the three cities. 

A noteworthy conversion was that of a Hu-nan man 
who came to the chapel one day. Mr. John, after 
preaching, catechised his audience. As this man 
answered every question correctly he was asked 
where he obtained his knowledge of the doctrine. He 
replied that he had been reading several books. 
Then he was earnestly exhorted to give his heart to 
God. He said he would, and became an earnest 
Christian. The fires of persecution, however, awaited 
him, and the members of his class wanted to cut him 
off on account of his religion, but his aged mother's 
intercessions prevailed. "Why," said she, "do you 
want to deprive me of my only son, and, as you know, 
he is one of the best of sons. The only fault you can 
find with him is that he is a Christian. Spare him 
for my sake." He has been graciously kept of God, 
and is growing in knowledge. 

Among several aged members who died in 1887 
was the venerable Shen-tsi-sing, Mr. John's faithful 
friend, assistant, and preacher for thirty years. He 
acted as Mr. John's pundit in the composition or 



156 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

translation of all his books and tracts save one, and 
was with him at the founding of the Hankow Mission. 
As an account of this remarkable man has already 
been given, it is only needful to add that some years 
ago he had a stroke of paralysis, and had latterly 
become very feeble. At the beginning of 1887 he 
returned to Nanking, his native city. Mr. John sent 
a man with him to attend to all his wants. This 
man returned, and reported that Mr. Shen had 
passed away on the 7th of November. 

Mr. John says of Mr. Shen, "I loved, respected, 
and trusted him as I have never done any other 
Chinaman. He was universally respected for his 
learning, ability, and character. He believed in Jesus 
with all his intellect and heart ; and it was his delight 
for years to stand up in the chapels, streets, and 
temples, and preach Christ and Him crucified. I 
never saw him show the least fear or shame when 
preaching or speaking of Christ. May God raise up 
many more like Mr. Shen in connection with all the 
Churches in this land.'' 

Another dear brother was Mr. Fung, who at one 
time was an opium smoker. He was led to give up 
the habit by a sermon preached by Mr. John on 
James iv. 8. Mr. John described the opium smoker 
lifting up his stained hands in prayer, and God 
bidding him go and cleanse them. Mr. Fung narra- 
ting this to his fellow Christians said, ""When the 
pastor, representing the opium smoker, lifted up his 
hands and told us how God was looking at the opium 
stains on the fingers, I felt he was describing me, and 
when the pastor cried out, ' Cleanse your hands, ye 
sinners,' I felt God was speaking to me. I resolved to 
give up the habit ; and I want to tell you all, that I 
would rather die than touch that accursed thing 
again." Mr. Fung died in Christ, and was often 
heard during his last days repeating the words, 
" Leaving the world ; going to the Father. Beautiful ! " 



HAPPY DEATHS. 157 

Some of the most cheering news comes from the 
churches of the Hiau-kan district. Many of those 
sturdy villagers, who formerly attempted to take the 
lives of Mr. John and Dr. Mackenzie, are now 
equally lively in propagating their faith in Jesus. 
Additional converts have been added to the churches 
there. One candidate was taken dangerously ill a 
few months before his baptism. "When all native 
remedies had failed to cure him, he was advised 
to give up his idea of entering the Christian Church 
and have the Buddhist idols brought in to worship. 
"No," said he. "If Christ was willing to lay down 
His life for me, it would be strange if I couldn't 
yield up my little bit of life to Him if He wishes to 
take it." He recovered from the sickness and was 
joyfully welcomed into the Church. 

The Christians have not only had the loss of their 
own loved ones to mourn over, but with their heathen 
neighbours have shared in the severe troubles which 
have caused the Chinese to call 1887 the year of the 
seven great calamities ; viz., great snow, great rains, 
great floods, great sickness, great fires, great drought, 
and the great calamity caused by the Yellow Eiver 
bursting its banks. 

Thus God is teaching the Chinese by His provi- 
dence, His preached word, His witnessing people, and 
the ever-brightening light which these impart, that 
His Kingdom is set up in their midst. 

The year 1888 has found the Hankow Mission 
receiving monthly accessions in very encouraging 
numbers. Mr. John works sturdily at his great 
task of translating the Old Testament into "easy 
Wen-li." It does not, however, prevent him from 
taking his full share in the general work. Still do 
the Chinese, when they see him enter the chapel, 
say to the native who may be preaching, " Stand 
down and let the foreigner speak to us ; we under- 
stand him better than w 7 e do you." His heart is 



158 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

bound up in the mission to these three great cities, 
with their two millions of inhabitants, while his 
eyes wander into the places beyond. Still does he 
sigh after Chung- Kiang, where he was the first to 
raise his voice and proclaim the Gospel, now 
twenty years ago. The missionary for that im- 
portant place is still labouring at Hankow, until his 
brethren shall see that the time has come for him 
to proceed to his appointed work of founding a mission 
there. 

Although more than half a million copies of various 
publications have been issued from the Central China 
Tract and Book Depot, of which Mr. John is the 
President, he still iterates his old appeal of " Preach ! 
preach ! " and with good reason. 

A few years ago wherever the missionaries went 
the country people cried out " Books ! books ! " Now 
when the missionary goes to them the cry is changed 
into " Preach ! preach !" They have read the books, 
and now want them explained. Preaching also has 
still a strange fascination over the human heart. Mr. 
John says, " Give them a book, and they read it 
carefully, perhaps ; but they do not seem to feel. 
I have never seen a Chinaman weep over a book, but 
I have many times made a Chinaman weep by the 
proclamation of the Gospel." 

The missionaries are giving increasing attention 
to the training of young people. They have now 
six boys' and two girls' schools, where the great object 
is to give the children a knowledge of the truth as 
it is in Jesus. Not long ago a little blind boy, who 
was being examined for admission into the church, 
was asked by Mr. John — 

" Do you know where Jesus is ? " 

"He is here," replied the lad. 

"You are blind; how do you know that Jesus is 
here?" asked the pastor. 

" Because I can see Him with my heart's eye." 



HAPPY DEATHS. 159 

Thus both old and young are being led by the 
loving and wise founder of the Hankow Mission into 
the path of righteousness. 

While God continues to honour him with much 
success, his brethren in England have, in May, 1888, 
shown their appreciation of his faithful labours by 
electing him as Chairman of the Congregational Union 
of England and Wales for the year 1889. It is to be 
hoped that the way will be made plain for him to 
accept this position, as his presence and advocacy of 
the mission cause will doubtless draw attention and 
bring much assistance to the work upon which his 
heart has so long been set. 

The attitude of some Christian people toward their 
brethren who are just emerging from heathenism 
seems to be expressed in the words, 

" Hereafter, in a better world than this, 
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you." 

If, however, Mr. John is able to respond to the call 
of the Churches in England, his occupancy of that 
important position will enable many who support the 
London Missionary Society to realise in a way they 
have never done before, the closeness of the ties which 
now bind the work of God at home with that carried 
on abroad by these " Messengers of the Churches." 

Thirty-three years have passed since, in response to 
the call of the Master, the Eev. Griffith John went 
forth to China. We cannot but admire and adore the 
wisdom and omniscience w T hich prepared, and at the 
right moment sent forth, a worker so wonderfully 
adapted to this hard sphere of labour. The rock, 
although divinely smitten, was rock still, and the 
living stream drawn from its stony bosom required 
skilful hands to guide it through the desert. Twenty- 
five years ago he stood alone, and faced the problem 
at Hankow. Now a band of brave, hard-working 
missionaries are by his side, and with loving 



160 GRIFFITH JOHN. 

sympathy uphold his hands while the conflict with 
evil is raging. So many points of vantage have 
already been secured, and such steady progress 
continues to be recorded, that no doubt remains as 
to the ultimate issue of the fight. 

It would be unbecoming to attempt any estimate 
of Mr. John. Such can only be formulated by Him 
" who will render unto every man according to his 
work." Eather will we pray that he may long be 
spared to show the erring heathen the way to the 
living God, and then amid triumphant plaudits enter 
the presence of the King. 

' ' God of the Universe, hear me ; Thou fountain of love everlasting, 
Hark to the voice of Thy servant ! I send up my prayer to Thy heaven. 
Let me hereafter not miss at Thy throne one spirit of all these 
Whom thou hast given me here ! 1 have loved them all like a father, 
May they bear witness for me that I taught them the way of salvation, 
Faithful, as far as I know of Thy word ; again may they know me. 
Fall on their teacher's breast ; and before Thy face may I place them — 
Pure as they now are, but only more tried — and exclaiming with 



Father ! lo, I am here, and the children whom Thou hast given me." 



THE END. 



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